N. Ejanthung Ngullie
Ex-General Secretary NSF
Kohima; Nagaland
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]espite all continual efforts since the past decades by many Naga forefront leaders, the saturated problem already created due to the unregulated influx of illegal immigrants in Nagaland has become too alarming, which is directly threatening the very existence of the Naga identity in our own homeland because of the incompatible mushroom growth of illegal foreigners. In view of these impending dangers, the Nagas must join hands in the struggle to prevent ourselves from being swamped by outsiders and outside forces. Therefore, if we wish to escape from the current threat, we need to initiate effective policies to deliver realistic and optimal solution to rectify the irregularities in the system, where, the past State and Central Government(s) machineries have miserably failed to tackle illegal infiltrators to a great extent.The serious concern rekindled recently by the Naga Students Federation (NSF) and Survival Nagaland (SN) to tackle the menace on Illegal Bangladeshis Immigrants (IBIs) should be well appreciated and welcomed by every Nagas in finding a common logical end. However, if we wish to win the battle, we need powerful leaders and intellectuals from all fronts besides NSF and SN to input insights into the technical deficiencies of the system. And to achieve the common goal, the State Government must promptly act on generating a comprehensive policy in approaching the Central Government for all necessary assistance.
While it is important to understand the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 popularly known as the ‘Inner Line Permit’ system and other constitutional Acts, below here are some points of suggestions for discussion and adoption;
1. To demand for further extension of ILP boundary in the whole state of Nagaland covering Dimapur Dist. and all the foot-hill areas of Nagaland.
2. A separate cell, centre for issuing ILP should be launched in Nagaland’s port-head i.e. Dimapur, to intensively check and record any foreigners arriving by roads, train or flight at Dimapur.
3. A visitor or tourists, who intend to apply for the existing temporary permit of 15 days, should not be entitled for jobs either in public or private enterprises.
4. Departments such as, Labor and Employment should be officially assigned for supervision and authentication of every non-local labourers in the State with specific criteria and duration to stay in Nagaland.
5. A Chairman/Headman/GB of a Town, village, colony or leaders of any perceptive area under the operation should be empowered to maintain proper records of the ‘in and out’ movements of immigrants residing in the particular vicinity.
6. A Special Commission should be constituted immediately to undertake extensive revision of electoral roll aimed at deleting the names of foreigners and illegal migrants from the electoral rolls within a stipulated period; until such revision is completed, no election should be conducted in Nagaland.
7. A Special committee should be instituted involving the like-minded Organizations to study and adopt a proactive policy to be submitted to the Central Government in the form of a ‘White Paper’ for bringing out a comprehensive policy to combat this problem.
8. Any initiative policies of these Special Committees approved by the State Govt on behalf of the genuine citizens should be co-operated and encouraged by providing logistic and other supports including financial implication required for its effective implementation by the Government and the public at large.
Further, to rhythm with these challenges, I humbly urge that every Nagas must aim to contribute to the debate on Illegal immigrants concerning Nagaland state keeping in mind all other confronting Issues of the Naga society, by stimulating discussion and exchange of ideas between various professionals, academicians, researchers, policy-makers, consultants, practitioners, government officials and postgraduate students from resources-related fields for the State and Central governments, businessmen, communities, and Non Governmental organizations to continuously assess the factors on ground reality, to examine future trends and to adopt comprehensive policy and various worktable techniques to cut risk and implausibility. And I’m sure, in the process, many lapses and loopholes in the system will gradually be diagnosed to be treated with better equipments.
To conclude, the need of the hour is to understand that it is no longer a humanitarian problem but a security problem, which needs to be dealt assertively but without hampering bilateral relations with the neighboring countries. It is time for the country to understand the seriousness of the issue and set up time bound measures once and for all.
“SAVE NAGALAND TODAY FOR YOURS TOMORROW”
