The imbroglio created by the recognition of the Rongmeis as a Scheduled tribe by the state government still continues and it has also taken the legal route. The issue at present indicates a scarcity of correctly interpreting the various terms and the associated laid down legal basis viv-a-vis the terms used in the state over the years.
The government of Nagaland made the mistake of granting the term ‘Indigenous’ to all those non Nagas who were settled prior to state hood. It includes Marwaris, Gorkhas (Nepalis), Sikhs, Muslims etc. and reported to have settled as early as the 19th century that increased with the opening of the railway head in Dimapur in the early 20th century. It is not without reason that they were accorded indigenous status because their support was also required when prior to Independence, Dimapur was urged to be kept under the Naga Hills district especially when the consultative committees and sub-committees of the then Constituents Assembly of India toured the region. Since they are Non-Nagas and mostly fall under the General category there is little confrontation with the natives when it comes to the matters of reservations.
There were also Naga tribes from other areas in the region who had settled prior to statehood and were also accorded the indigenous status after statehood. Some of the Rongmeis in present Nagaland fall under this category as they were enumerated in the electoral roll of 1964. Their descendants who number about 1300 still enjoy the indigenous status in Nagaland. However even though Rongmeis are scheduled tribes in other states when they already have indigenous status in Nagaland and also given the scheduled tribes status then the confusion starts with the existing natives the actual indigenes feeling threatened and it is on expected lines. There is also genuine concern and a threat perception that the late comers of the Rongmei tribe will also slowly seep into the category.
In order to protect the interests of the natives of the state the government has the Scheduled Tribe reservation that can be applied so that Non-Nagas are barred from certain benefits. On the contrary it cannot use the same yardstick for the Naga tribals that were accorded indigenous status and given the status of Scheduled Tribe as it would be equating them with the rest of the original Nagas tribes from Nagaland. However the basic human rights of both the groups also have to be taken into consideration and again all the citizens of India is governed by the constitution. So also, it is only the Nagaland state that will be able provide the ST certificates to those Nagas who came from other areas and settled in state prior to statehood. There lies the bone of contention.
The government of Nagaland still do not officially apply the term domicile though the concept is already there. It may be a way out unless there are some other legal directives to correct the current issue that has cropped up with the recognition of the selected few members of the Rongmeis as a Scheduled Tribes. However the concept of domicile is also interpreted by various courts that there is only one domicile for the entire country since the entire country is governed by one single law. A clear interpretation from the judiciary will be required in the case of Nagaland since it has some special provisions in the constitution.
