Nagas urged to strengthen Article 371(A)

Assistant professor at Kohima Law College and president of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO), Kezhokhoto Savi, has called upon the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland to ponder seriously strengthening Article 371(A).

DIMAPUR — Assistant professor at Kohima Law College and president of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO), Kezhokhoto Savi, has called upon the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland to ponder seriously strengthening Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution to protect the land and its resources, culture, identities, traditional practices, ways of life etc.

Speaking at the ‘International Day of the World’s Indigenous People’ programme at Kohima Law College on Wednesday on the theme “Youth as agents of change for self-determination,” Savi called upon the Nagas to be on guard as indigenous population in many countries have been subjected to marginalisation, exploitation and oppression by dominant ethnic groups or colonial authorities.

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While appreciating the state government for the initiative on Register Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), Savi cautioned the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland to never allow any mechanism to exploit the rights saying, "RIIN entitled only for Nagas of Nagaland."

On the occasion, Savi also called upon the village councils, town wards/colonies not to issue any certificate to the non-entitled person such as a residential certificate etc. Besides, he has discouraged the practice of adoption, especially the non-Nagas or non-indigenous persons or children.

Savi further stated that the Naga indigenous people cannot afford to lose nor weaken in any manner Article 371A of the Indian Constitution as long as they are under Indian Constitution.

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