A Simple Proposal for RIIN .... ?
'Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland'

Kohima, 15 July 2019

The decision to have the 'Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland' (RIIN) is laudable if it can be prepared in its pure form.

But the apprehension expressed by organizations as well as individuals is that it may do more harm than good to the future generation if it is not correctly done. For example, the successive Governments in Nagaland are being blamed for failure to implement ILP regulations.

We must admit that we have been failing miserably to check illegal immigrants, main reason for it may be attributed to the failure of the implementing agencies at various stages even if the Government may have the determination to implement it strictly.

In the same measure, the stakeholders' apprehension may prove right later on if the preparation and implementation system of RIIN are not strictly laid down first before the exercise starts.

Since the decision is good, why not we make it simpler and see that the register is prepared without implicating it with any other rules or regulations at the moment.

Nagas have very close attachment to our ancestral villages wherever we may be. The family, clan and community system in the villages are still highly revered by one and all. Every village has its own history. The citizens living in towns go to their respective villages once or twice a year to attend festivals or important events in order to keep the link of their ancestral history alive.

Even before the advent of the British people into our land, Naga villages were self contained and self administered an pure republics. Naga villages can rise to the occasion any time when they are entrusted with any responsibility in the interest of the people.

I believe that the Register for Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland can best be prepared in its purest form within a short period of time by the Naga villages. The Government of Nagaland should trust her own people that this exercise can be done satisfactorily only by the indigenous citizens of Nagaland themselves.

Nagaland Government can authorize the village authorities/ councils to carry out the exercise of preparing the Register of indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland. within time frame. If that authorization is given with clear instructions, the village authorities can arrange the rest by themselves within their jurisdiction. The villages can fix their own time for her citizens to come together to register their names.

When the Roman Governor Quirinius asked the citizens to go to their own towns to register their names as per the decree issued by Caesar Augustus for census of the entire Roman World, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to register their names even if they did not have a house in their own native village.

Many Nagas who had migrated to towns long ago may not have their houses in their own villages but their attachment to their ancestral villages remain the same. When asked, citizens will be too happy to go to their respective villages to register their names.

It will be in the fitness of things if the register is prepared first without implicating it with other issues even if the word 'indigenous or indigenous inhabitants' are mentioned in other rules or regulations. Once it is done, COMPUTERISE IT so that no change can be affected later on.

The village authorities can take the initiative but the role of the students is important here. Students should assist, monitor the work in every village and for which they should be authorized to be part of the exercise. Why because, student organizations are the only one going against illegal immigration in the area. Therefore, towards this end, NSF/ENSF should issue uniform directive to their district, village units.

After completion, the Government can sit over it and apply their mind when and where or in what sense this register can be of use to protect the interest of the people. In doing so, Government should also work out how to protect the permanent settlers of Nagaland in reference to 1963 E/R. The Government must ensure to protect the interest of the minority groups in Nagaland in the best possible manner.

There is no point for the Nagas from other areas other than the Nagaland State to have any doubt or fear for it. Nagas villages wherever it may be, can take up this exercise for its own record any time even without directive from elsewhere if the village authorities so decide.

(Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu)