Social organisations urge government to implement RIIN

Dimapur, Feb. 4 (EMN): The Dimapur District Village Council Chairmen’s Association (DDVCCA) and the Nagaland Gaonbura Federation (NGBF) have urged the state government to enact the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) as demanded by the Joint Committee for Illegal Immigrants (JCPI).

The DDVCCA has affirmed on the stand of Joint Committee for Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) to enact the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) by tabling the Banuo Commission’s report during the forthcoming assembly session.

A statement from DDVCCA stated that the issue of illegal immigrants “flooding the NE states” was alarming.

“A NE states are now dominated by illegal immigrants and the indigenous inhabitants are today a minority in their own state,” it read.

DDVCCA has also appealed to the elected representatives to “collectively apply their wisdom and not fail the future of our people”.

“The importance and severity of this issue should not be narrowed to party colours but evolve a consensus.

“DDVCCA also endorse December 1, 1963 as cut-off year for registration of RIIN. Compromise on year later than 1963 would undo the whole essence of identifying indigenous inhabitants therefore date and year of statehood (16th state in Union of India) is most appropriate and convenient which the legislature should consider,” it added.

In a separate statement, the Nagaland Gaonbura Federation (NGBF) has appealed to the government to implement the demand of the Join Committee for Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) and also enact report of the Banuo's Commission on RIIN into an Act without further delay.

The federation has urged to maintain December 1, 1963, as the cut-off year to register as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.

A federation’s statement jointly issued by its president Shahlem Konyak, general secretary Shikuto Zalipu, and media secretary Akhu Naga has urged to disclose the Commission's report to the civil society before it becomes an act. The federation also urged the government to pass the Banou's Commission report on RIIN into an Act during the ensuing Assembly winter session scheduled from February 12.

“Every citizen must have distinct rights as per the law of the land. It is important to identify and categorise so that no rightful citizen is deprived of their rights, which makes it all the more important to implement the same urgently,” the statement read. The federation felt that implementation of the act would greatly help in dispensing justice to those already delayed in receiving their right.