Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio assured Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) that further consultations would be held on Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) after Banuo Z Jamir Commission submitted its report.
He was replying to a calling attention notice issued by NPF legislator Dr. Chotisuh Sazo on the last day of the fourth session of the 13th NLA on RIIN and ILP. Further, Rio also exuded confidence that the opposition members will join hands and work in unison on the issue.
Rio informed members that civil society and NGOs had resolved to extend support to the government on RIIN at the consultative meeting. He also said it was also agreed that process of enumeration for RIIN would be carried out only after consultations with stakeholders and also implemented only after the modalities were agreed upon. The chief minister said the process of holding consultations with stakeholders was time consuming but nevertheless the government would ensure that eventually it will take the call only after all aspects were agreed upon by the people.
Rio regretted that NPF leaders had the habit of boycotting consultative meetings when tribal hohos and CSOs had come forward to express their minds and support, even as he hoped that this would not be repeated in future.
Assuring to take people into confidence, he remarked that if it was not the right time for RIIN, like the opposition members had said, then “people will decide”, adding NLA would do no wrong to the people.
Seeking opinions and constructive criticisms from all sections of the people, including the legislators, Rio admitted that it was not an easy task. He, however, stressed that it was important not only for the present generation but also for the upcoming generations as well.
He also lauded NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu for appreciating RIIN.
Taking part in the discussion, deputy chief minister Y Patton commented that after examining the Abhishek Singh Committee report on ILP, the cabinet had approved extension of ILP to the entire State, including Dimapur district, and entrusted the committee to frame rules and regulations for ILP within one month, adding that the home department would initiate the process of making ILP system online.
Patton explained that the government had come up with RIIN while deliberating on various matters concerning ILP primarily to ensure that bogus and fake indigenous inhabitants were not issued fake indigenous certificates.
He reiterated that the PDA government was committed to strengthen ILP implementation in the entire State by extending it to Dimapur and devising suitable and foolproof regulations, besides being committed to create RIIN correctly and comprehensively in the interest of the people of the State.
IPR, SCERT & HGs adviser Toshi Wungtung asserted that RIIN would bring accountability and responsibility to the authorities concerned, besides providing a route for effective implementation of ILP.
Participating in the discussion, PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi claimed that all members were unanimous, including NGOs, tribal hohos and civil society organisations, in their support for RIIN.
He said once it was implemented in toto, RIIN would provide opportunities to local entrepreneurs and engage them in developmental activities. It would also enable the government to know the exact data from this exercise, he added.
Opposition member Chumben Murry, while participating in the debate, observed that it was not well documented that Nagas were indigenous people. Explaining that RIIN and ILP were two different things, he explained that RIIN identify individuals based on certain criteria, whereas ILP was more or less like a travel document that enabled law-abiding citizens to come and stay for a while. He stressed that other important factors ought to be spelled out so that no one was neglected or left out from RIIN.
Pointing out that ILP implementation in Dimapur district had necessitated RIIN, ITC & NRE adviser Mhonlumo Kikon proposed IT-based ILP system in the State. He said RIIN was important at this juncture due to unemployment problem while illegal immigrants were eating into job opportunities in private sector.
NPF MLA, Yitachu too said RIIN and ILP were two different things that could not be clubbed together. Tribal areas needed to be protected, and unique customary laws and practices could not be infringed upon or lands taken away, he added.
Agriculture & cooperation minister Kaito Aye said there was nothing wrong in knowing the exact number of Nagas of Nagaland. Therefore, he urged all, including CSOs, to come forward and support the exercise.
Participating in the debate, NPF legislator Moatoshi proposed that all trade licences should be cancelled within a fixed period of time and no fresh licence issued, adding that bona fide Indian vendors should have licences from the competent authority, while no tenancy should be given to illegal immigrants and there should be restriction on their employment.
Summing up the debate on behalf of the opposition, leader of opposition TR Zeliang said RIIN issue should be deliberated at length before its implementation. Creation of RIIN with 1963 as the basis of categorisation without indigenous Nagas being well-defined would only victimise certain sections of people, he feared.
Suggesting bifurcation of RIIN with ILP, Zeliang demanded that proper modalities should be worked out. He urged the government to implement ILP in Dimapur in a stringent manner as was being done in other districts, saying it was only to identify non-tribals and non-Nagas.