Dimapur, June 28 (EMN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) conducted a consultative meeting with tribal hohos and civil organisations of Nagaland on June 22 in the Red Cross Conference Hall in Kohima.
A press release issued by the media cell of the NTC on Thursday informed that the meeting covered crucial issues confronting the state and its citizens. The issues included the Nagaland Special Development Zone; government proposals for a cadastral survey in the state; the Nagaland Land and Revenue Amendment Act of 1978; the Citizenship Amendment Bill of 2016; the issue of recognition to the Rongmei tribe, and the Bengal Eastern Regulation Act (BEFR) 1873.
According to the updates from the NTC, a number of recommendations were made seeking effective implementation.
BEFR Act 1873
The NTC expressed concern and urged the state government to take necessary steps such as affecting amendments to the BEFR Act to strengthen and extend its coverage across the entire administrative jurisdiction of Nagaland. Another proposal was that a separate cell be created in the Home department to monitor strict enforcement of the BEFR, the Foreigners Act, and the Indian Passport Act daily while providing training to enforcement agencies.
Nagaland Land and Revenue Amendment Act of 1978
This act got the assent of the governor on September 29, 1978 which was extended to the whole of Nagaland State to protect and preserve the land that belongs to the indigenous and vulnerable people of the state, the members in-meeting stated. The members urged the government to implement the law in letter and in spirit by sending necessary instructions to the deputy commissioners, revenue officers, and village authorities in concern to strictly adhere to the law and protect the land and properties according to the law of the land.
The council urged also the Nagaland GB Federation to instruct its federating units to strictly enforce the act in their respective village and to maintain record of land transfers and registrations within their respective jurisdiction.
Nagaland special Development Zones
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government adopted the NSDZ on March 24 2014 under which the foothill areas within the state of Nagaland would be earmarked for the so called special development zones, the NTC stated. Within the said cadastral areas, laws such as Article 371(A); BEFR Act, 1873 (ILP); and Nagaland Land and Revenue Amendment Act, 1978 shall not be applicable, the group stated.
‘The NSDZ will become free zone for anyone from any race, own and pursue any business without restriction. The whole intention of NSDZ is to curve out the plain sector of Nagaland for outsiders for permanent settlement. Such decision is anti-thesis to the special category in the state and suicidal for the indigenous citizens of Nagaland. The state Government should therefore, revoke the resolution adopted on March 24 2014’, the NTC stated.
The meeting deliberated about the merits and demerits of the proposed cadastral survey of Nagaland. It stated that the land owners will have to become ‘Patta holders’ and their paying of land premium becomes inevitable. Thus, the indigenous right of land ownership will be done away with following the proposed land cadastral survey. This proposed exercise was found detrimental to the fundamental rights of its citizens. The NTC cautioned the Govt. not to dilute the tribal rights, traditions, and culture.
The council appealed for the minimum years of residency in India to apply for citizenship to be reduced from 11 to six years for illegal migrants. The group opposed the Bill and urged the government of Nagaland to oppose the bill in the interest of the indigenous inhabitants of the state.
The meeting acknowledged the decision of the then DAN Govt. for derecognising Rongmei as a tribe in Nagaland in its cabinet meeting conducted on April 25 2017. ‘It was disheartening to note that Rongmeis had the temerity to go to the court challenging the revocation order of Nagaland Govt. We failed to understand how Rongmeis have undermined the magnanimity of the Nagas of Nagaland in extending our hospitality unconditionally to them all these years’, the NTC stated.
