Says Nagaland economy slipping out of local hands
The Naga Students’ Federation’s (NSF) Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) said the three districts of Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Niuland were very crucial for implementation and enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Addressing a press conference on the implementation of ILP in the three districts at the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) office here on Friday, ILRC convener NSN Lotha acknowledged that ILR enforcement was unsatisfactory in other districts. However, he said the NSF had chosen to focus on these three districts because they were entry points for outsiders.
He argued that proper enforcement in the three districts would address a large part of the problem, confirming that memorandums had been submitted to the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Dimapur and Chümoukedima.
However, despite repeated attempts, he claimed that they had not been able to contact the DC of Niuland for several days and had not yet submitted the memorandum.
He disclosed that the memorandum contained detailed points and included matters discussed at their convention.
He called on the government to ensure systematic implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873 in Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Niuland, stressing that no one should misuse the regulation.
Cautioning against any lackadaisical attitude from the administration or enforcement agencies, he reiterated the demand that the cut-off date should be December 1, 1963 when Nagaland became a state. He clarified that they were not opposing the entry of non-Nagas, but insisted that those who came must respect the laws.
He said the NSF remained firm in ensuring the implementation of ILR, adding that this was not a new demand, as the federation had submitted a representation to the state government as early as 1978–79. He mentioned that if the government had acted then, the current situation would have been different.
He clarified that NSF was not on a collision course with the government but aimed to assist it, raising awareness, and helping people understand that Nagaland was not any other state. He maintained that it was a unique state, born out of Naga political movement, and must be treated as such. He insisted that outsiders must respect and follow Nagaland’s unique identity and existing systems.
He highlighted that one key point of the memorandum submitted to the DC was that even outsiders who come and leave the same day in the three districts must follow the ILR, with no exemptions being allowed. Calling for creating a mechanism to monitor short-term visitors, he asserted that the NSF was committed to fully enforcing the regulation without any leniency.
“We clearly told the DCs to create a system to manage visitors who come for just one day. We will be very thorough and leave no stone unturned to ensure the implementation of the Inner Line Regulation,” he declared.
Lotha said popular demand would compel the government to enforce the ILP with all seriousness.
Expressing concern over the growing presence of outsiders, especially non-Nagas in Dimapur, he alleged that they had taken residence and were now controlling the state’s economy. He said the hospitable nature of Nagas had been taken advantage of, and many outsiders now behaved like hosts rather than guests.
He lamented that majority of shops establishments in the three districts were controlled by outsiders due to weak ILP enforcement. He maintained that the state’s development benefited outsiders, not locals.
However, he expressed confidence that the people of Nagaland had awakened now and were determined to bring the economy back into the hands of indigenous people.
Asked whether it was fair to blame non-Nagas for dominating business in Nagaland, instead of reflecting on local shortcomings, Lotha replied that sometimes when the system did not support local people, it was exploited by outsiders. He alleged that the current system in Nagaland was not favourable for the locals, allowing non-locals to benefit. He demanded that the system must be supportive of indigenous people so that they could take control of their own economy.
On whether the ILRC had data of non-Nagas living in Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Niuland, he said the committee was formed only three months ago and had not yet begun that assessment. However, he assured that a detailed study would be carried out, as it was essential for planning a systematic approach.
Asked how the committee planned to respond to the government’s delay in acting on its recommendations, he revealed that the memorandum was submitted on April 4, and nearly two months had passed. Hence, he assured that the committee would soon send a reminder to the government, adding that the government’s response would help them decide the next course of action.
Regarding harassment of individuals with valid documents, Lotha mentioned that the NSF was very serious about protecting human rights. He assured that those legally residing in Nagaland and exempted from ILP would not face discrimination. If such cases arose, he encouraged affected individuals to report the matter directly to the NSF or DNSU, who would ensure that no injustice was committed in the name of ILP enforcement.
Asked whether the NSF had enough manpower to monitor Nagaland’s forest borders, Lotha acknowledged that even heavily guarded international borders faced infiltration. However, he stressed that every effort must be made to ensure the borders were properly monitored.
He disclosed that the memorandum recommended deploying dedicated enforcing personnel for ILP enforcement, who should also be sensitised to avoid discrimination. He emphasised that while the ILP implementation must be strict, it should also be smooth and free from unnecessary harassment. He admitted that challenges would arise, but said these would help identify solutions, declaring that the NSF was ready to support the government.
Regarding confusion around ILP registration for families, Lotha clarified that the Inner Line Pass was not a group or family pass, but issued individually. He said every member, including children, must have a separate pass unless exempted.
He said Chümoukedima and Dimapur DCs were already taking steps to sensitise non-Nagas about the ILP process. Since enforcement had been weak for years, he admitted that many people were unaware of the rules. Hence, he stated that the initial phase would focus on awareness and not penalties, emphasising that innocent individuals should not be harassed and that strict enforcement would follow only after proper sensitisation.
On the misconceptions around ILP, especially among non-Nagas, he clarified that ILP was not targeted at any specific community, pointing out that even Nagas were required to obtain ILPs while visiting Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, or parts of Manipur.
Since Nagaland also fell under the BEFR, 1873, he said non-indigenous individuals entering Nagaland too must obtain ILP. He stressed sensitising people to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone respected and followed the law uniformly.
On setting a deadline for sensitisation of officials and the public, Lotha mentioned that the period must be reasonable but not indefinite. While it was important to give people time to understand the ILP process and documents required, especially for foreigners unfamiliar with the system, he insisted that enforcement must begin after enough awareness had been created.