Naga Students' Federation proposes reforms to Inner Line Permit system in Nagaland

NSF officials addressing a press conference in Kohima on Thursday. (EM Images)

• KOHIMA — The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the government of Nagaland through the chief secretary, urging the state government to enforce the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 in Nagaland and proposing reforms for the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
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• Addressing a press conference in Kohima after submitting the memorandum, Senchumo NSN Lotha, the chairman of ILRC, said that the BEFR was born out of the Enabling Act of 1870, which allowed the government to come up with any regulations in any particular area.
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• He, however, lamented the negligence and lack of attention towards the enforcement of BEFR 1873.

Also read: Minority communities propose Inner Line Permit exemptions in Nagaland

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• Although there are three states in the Northeast—Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh—where the regulation is applicable, and Manipur was recently included, he pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have only been facilitating it, while Mizoram was regimentally enforcing it, and the state has been benefitting from the regulation.
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• According to Lotha, one of the pivotal agendas of the ILRC is that the economy of the state should come into its own hands, for which strict and stringent enforcement of the inner-land regulation is a must.
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• In its 10-point memorandum, the NSF called for establishing a centralised database system. “The Inner Line Pass (ILP) issued to outsiders entering Nagaland must be stored in a single central location. This will ensure ease of access, consistency and improved security for any outsiders entering Nagaland with vested interest,” it stated.
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• Citing the porous borders with Assam, it urged the state government to establish new checkpoints wherever necessary and also re-strengthen the existing ones. “Establishment of new checkpoints must include establishment of an ILP issuing office and checkpoints at the Dimapur Railway Station and Dimapur Airport,” it added.