The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) is organising a two-day national seminar on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, in Dimapur
DIMAPUR — The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) is organising a two-day national seminar on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, in Dimapur with an aim to create awareness, strengthen its implementation and consolidate recommendations for adoption by the Government of Nagaland.
The seminar, conceived as a national-level policy consultation, will be held at Town Hall in Dimapur, on August 28 and 29, updated NSF’s Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC), which is spearheading the event.
The first day, themed “Academic and Ground Realities”, will examine the enforcement of BEFR in Nagaland and other states where the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system is in force, while the second day, themed “Legal Perspective”, will address the constitutional dimensions of the Regulation.
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Prashant Bhushan and Shomona Khanna, Senior Advocates of the Supreme Court of India, will address the seminar on the correlation between Fundamental Rights and the BEFR, 1873, and on the protection of the rights of the hill tribes, stated the press release.
The academic resource persons of the seminar are Prof. Nani Bath of Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh; Dr. Lallianchhunga of Mizoram University; Prof. (Dr.) Ch. Priyoranjan Singh of Manipur University; and Prof. Shantanu Chakravarty of Girijananda Chowdhury University, former head of the Department of Political Science at Cotton University, Assam.
More than 300 delegates from tribal Hohos, apex Naga organisations, student bodies, NSF federating units, members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, government officials, bar associations and educational institutions in Dimapur, are expected to attend the event.
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At least 20 seats will be available for the general public, it said, adding that advance booking is compulsory. Those interested in attending the seminar can contact ILRC-NSF at ilrc.nsf@gmail.com or +91 8413899928 before booking window closes on August 25.
The federation has appealed to the public, particularly students, to take interest in the deliberations, stating that the BEFR, 1873, and the ILP system remain important safeguards for the identity, land, customs and resources of indigenous people in the state.
The proceedings of the seminar will be documented, it informed, adding that the rapporteurs' report consolidated policy recommendations and a seminar resolution will be submitted to the Government of Nagaland.