NIPF will host the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Dimapur on August 9, highlighting indigenous midwives.
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum (NIPF), under the aegis of the North East Indigenous People’s Forum (NEIPF), will host the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples at Town Hall, Dimapur, on August 9.
The event will be held on the theme, “Honouring Indigenous midwives: Safeguarding life and well-being”, with Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer as the special guest.
Announcing this at a press interaction at his residence in Diphupar on Friday, NIPF president Dr. T Lima Jamir said the forum was privileged to host the event for the first time in Nagaland, noting that delegates from across the northeastern states, along with representatives of civil society organisations, NGOs, student bodies and other frontal organisations, are expected to attend.
Jamir said the theme seeks to recognise the contribution of indigenous midwives, who played a crucial role in communities before the advent of modern healthcare facilities asserting that before the coming of modern medical facilities, midwives were the persons who nurtured and helped bring children into the world.
They are the unsung heroes,” he said.
The secretary general of NEIPF, N Ibungochoubi said the celebration would be followed by a consultative meeting under the aegis of NIPF to deliberate on issues concerning indigenous rights.
He said one of the key points adopted in the Jokai Declaration at Dibrugarh, Assam, last year was an appeal to all northeastern state governments to establish a separate Indigenous Affairs department or directorate.
According to Ibungochoubi, the NIPF subsequently appealed to members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, including the chief minister, to support the establishment of such a department.
He said MLA Azo Nienu, had introduced a private bill in the Nagaland State Assembly to introduce a directorate or a department of Indigenous Affairs.
Ibungochoubi said such a department could provide an institutional mechanism to address concerns relating to indigenous rights, demographic changes and the alleged influx of foreign nationals.
He said the NEIPF had expressed concern over what it described as the gradual influx of illegal immigrants into several northeastern states, stating that the issue could have implications for the political, economic and demographic interests of indigenous communities.
He added that the forum, had called upon state governments to develop stronger mechanisms, in coordination with the central government, to monitor and address the movement and settlement of foreign nationals.
Jamir also said the proposed Indigenous Affairs department would not provide an immediate solution to the issue but could strengthen the institutional mechanism to address it.
He said that with a separate Indigenous Affairs department, supported by adequate infrastructure, financial resources and manpower, working alongside the police and the administration, the issue could be addressed through mechanisms such as the Inner Line Permit and proper checking.
On the government’s ongoing efforts to check the movement of illegal immigrants and strengthen the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, Jamir said the NIPF had been supporting the government as a catalyst.
He said the government had taken steps towards strengthening the ILP mechanism and expressed hope that further measures would be taken up during the next Assembly session.
Jamir also called upon the younger generation to take the issue seriously. He alleged that some illegal immigrants were marrying local women, adopting local surnames and subsequently gaining access to business opportunities and other privileges.
He urged young people to remain vigilant on issues affecting indigenous communities, including the emergence of migrant-based organisations and associations.
The NIPF president said that celebration is expected to bring together around 300-400 delegates and special invitees from different northeastern states and asserted that all are welcome at the event.