Register of Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland (RIIN); A critique with ideas
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Ngaranmi Shimray
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported in September 2018 that - “The Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution on integration of the contiguous Naga inhabited areas for all Nagas to live under one administrative umbrella.
“MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) coalition and Opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) voted for the resolution moved by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio by raising their hands.”
It is indeed ironic that the Nagaland State Assembly has passed numerous resolutions “for integration of the contiguous Naga inhabited areas for all Nagas to live under one administrative umbrella”, but lost an opportunity when it could have played its “big brother role”. It conveyed through the implementation of Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) that - Nagas from the States of Arunachal, Assam and Manipur whose lands are contiguous to Nagaland are not welcome to live among them. Nagas living outside the State of Nagaland, including those in Myanmar, are still driven by the desire for unity of Nagas to live as one Nation. The Nagas in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal are in minority and are suffering from neglect and poverty. They are the ones pinning high hopes for a favourable outcome from the Indo-Naga peace talks based on the Framework Agreement as they continue to suffer from domination. However, the RIIN policy turned out to be a double whammy for them - a severe body blow and emotional hurt of rejection by big brother.
The recent RIIN policy raises questions as to why big brother should carry on with the false hope of uniting all Naga areas if there is no serious intention to do so. It is better to “say to our faces that the Nagas from outside Nagaland are not wanted”. Do not deceive us with resolutions. Tell us truthfully that integration is not wanted and not possible. We will accept the decision gracefully and try to survive in our own political space under dominant communities in the best way we can.
The decision to have a Register of Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland (RIIN) comprising of only the tribes of Nagaland is a big blow to the idea of “Nagas are One”. Recall the circumstances how Nagaland was created and became a State under the Union of India. The 16 Point Agreement signed in July 1960, which was the precursor to creation of Nagaland as an entity, was a masterstroke to many who gained politically from it, but at the same time a betrayal to many others who gave birth to the idea of Naga Nationhood. The Nagas of Nagaland have carved for themselves a State of their own, while the Nagas living in inhabited areas outside Nagaland are still suffering the consequences of the birth of Nagaland as it left them out by insertion of Point No 13 in the 16 Point Agreement which states that - “Consolidation of Contiguous Naga Areas: The delegation wished the following to be placed on record: "The Naga leaders expressed the view that other Nagas inhabiting contiguous areas should be enabled to join the new State.
It was pointed out to them on behalf of the Government of India that Article 3 and 4 of the Constitution provided for increasing the area of any State, but it was possible for the Government of India to make any commitment in this regard at this stage". Point 13 was a lip service and a trick used by some of the signatories to keep the “other Nagas inhabiting contiguous areas” out and in limbo. This act of selfishness of hastily forming a small State without greater and sincere efforts to rope in other Nagas inhabited areas became the seed of discontent and created further turmoil in the Naga areas since the signing of the 16 Point Agreement on July 1960 and continues to be an issue till this day. Insurgency still continues to plague the entire Naga Areas with the primary objective of creating a united Nagalim encompassing all Naga areas in India and Myanmar.
Today, the implementation of RIIN policy seem to confirm the suspicion that similar selfish mindset of July 1960 continue to prevail among some politicians promoting an exclusive Nagaland for Nagas of Nagaland and jettisoning the idea of a united Nagalim. The policy of RIIN has even excluded people from other Naga tribes, originally hailing from villages outside Nagaland but have been living in Nagaland for generations and decades, from Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate (IIC). Exclusion of such category of Naga people, who have settled in Nagaland for generations, is not right and needs a relook.
RIIN is not the end of the road to citizenship of Nagaland, but could be the beginning for other finer factors to be incorporated in the policy. RIIN seems to be a reflection of NRC (National Register of Citizens) with a difference. In NRC, village-wise details are derived from the Census records and it is an objective exercise to ascertain citizenship by looking at old records. However, RIIN could suffer from subjective and arbitrary considerations as records will be generated by the village itself leaving scope for manipulation. If RIIN register is Census based like the NRC, old village-wise records of inhabitants living in Nagaland for generations and decades could be extracted. Regardless of whether they belong to any of the 15 Naga tribes and 4 other tribes of Nagaland or not, the inhabitants recorded in the Census since the creation of the State cannot be denied their rightful claim of being a citizen of Nagaland based on Census records.
The Government of Nagaland has referred to The Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970 under which 15 Naga tribes and 4 other tribes are notified as residents in the State, and are considered as Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland provided that the person can trace their antecedents to a recognized village in Nagaland. One tribe among the 4 other tribes is a nomadic tribe. This particular tribe has their kith and kins across most North Eastern States leaving scope for manipulation of records by the Village Verification Committee who could all be their own tribesmen. It would therefore be advisable to follow scientific and objective processes by compiling village-wise registry based on Census records of a given base year.
As Nagaland tribes have been notified in 1970, Census 1971 could serve as the source for bringing out village-wise registry. RIIN could have a category for allowing persons recorded in Census of 1971 to be given IIC with a unique code number to indicate “naturalisation” to allow those settled for generations to become RIIN naturalised citizens. Further, if the noble and patriotic slogan of “Nagas are One” is to be promoted and pursued, special provisions could be made for Nagas from outside Nagaland to settle down in towns/cities and any village in Nagaland through a process of obtaining “Permanent Residency” (PR) status after IIC with a code is given.
This would be preceded by a process of application, scrutiny, vetting and acceptance by the Town/City Verification committee or Village Verification Committee for giving PR with a code number for a specified number of years to qualify for PR status. In this manner an inclusive Nagas society could be created in towns, cities and villages across Nagaland. If the Nagas of Nagaland wish to settle down anywhere in contiguous Naga inhabited areas, a reciprocal policy of allowing Nagas from Nagaland can be carried out by the Apex Naga organisation and their Village Councils in their States. In this way, a truly inclusive universal Naga society can be built up in the lands of the Nagas with the Naga brotherhood spirit towards Naga Nationhood.
There is always hope for a better future and room for improvement. The RIIN policy needs slight tweaking firstly, to accommodate Nagas of other States bordering Nagaland who have been living there for generations and secondly, for giving opportunity to new applicants from Naga inhabited areas contagious to Nagaland state who wish to make Nagaland their home by fresh application.
After all, the occupation, tribe, number of persons, antecedents etc of the IIC seekers of PR category can all be regulated through rigorous vetting by the village and town/city committees and decision would be in their hands. I firmly believe that a truly inclusive Naga society could be build up through a regulated RIIN framework towards fulfilling the primary goal of building a strong and united Naga society and Naga Lim.
“We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end”
— Woodrow T Wilson
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported in September 2018 that - “The Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution on integration of the contiguous Naga inhabited areas for all Nagas to live under one administrative umbrella.
“MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) coalition and Opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) voted for the resolution moved by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio by raising their hands.”
It is indeed ironic that the Nagaland State Assembly has passed numerous resolutions “for integration of the contiguous Naga inhabited areas for all Nagas to live under one administrative umbrella”, but lost an opportunity when it could have played its “big brother role”. It conveyed through the implementation of Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) that - Nagas from the States of Arunachal, Assam and Manipur whose lands are contiguous to Nagaland are not welcome to live among them. Nagas living outside the State of Nagaland, including those in Myanmar, are still driven by the desire for unity of Nagas to live as one Nation. The Nagas in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal are in minority and are suffering from neglect and poverty. They are the ones pinning high hopes for a favourable outcome from the Indo-Naga peace talks based on the Framework Agreement as they continue to suffer from domination. However, the RIIN policy turned out to be a double whammy for them - a severe body blow and emotional hurt of rejection by big brother.
The recent RIIN policy raises questions as to why big brother should carry on with the false hope of uniting all Naga areas if there is no serious intention to do so. It is better to “say to our faces that the Nagas from outside Nagaland are not wanted”. Do not deceive us with resolutions. Tell us truthfully that integration is not wanted and not possible. We will accept the decision gracefully and try to survive in our own political space under dominant communities in the best way we can.
The decision to have a Register of Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland (RIIN) comprising of only the tribes of Nagaland is a big blow to the idea of “Nagas are One”. Recall the circumstances how Nagaland was created and became a State under the Union of India. The 16 Point Agreement signed in July 1960, which was the precursor to creation of Nagaland as an entity, was a masterstroke to many who gained politically from it, but at the same time a betrayal to many others who gave birth to the idea of Naga Nationhood. The Nagas of Nagaland have carved for themselves a State of their own, while the Nagas living in inhabited areas outside Nagaland are still suffering the consequences of the birth of Nagaland as it left them out by insertion of Point No 13 in the 16 Point Agreement which states that - “Consolidation of Contiguous Naga Areas: The delegation wished the following to be placed on record: "The Naga leaders expressed the view that other Nagas inhabiting contiguous areas should be enabled to join the new State.
It was pointed out to them on behalf of the Government of India that Article 3 and 4 of the Constitution provided for increasing the area of any State, but it was possible for the Government of India to make any commitment in this regard at this stage". Point 13 was a lip service and a trick used by some of the signatories to keep the “other Nagas inhabiting contiguous areas” out and in limbo. This act of selfishness of hastily forming a small State without greater and sincere efforts to rope in other Nagas inhabited areas became the seed of discontent and created further turmoil in the Naga areas since the signing of the 16 Point Agreement on July 1960 and continues to be an issue till this day. Insurgency still continues to plague the entire Naga Areas with the primary objective of creating a united Nagalim encompassing all Naga areas in India and Myanmar.
Today, the implementation of RIIN policy seem to confirm the suspicion that similar selfish mindset of July 1960 continue to prevail among some politicians promoting an exclusive Nagaland for Nagas of Nagaland and jettisoning the idea of a united Nagalim. The policy of RIIN has even excluded people from other Naga tribes, originally hailing from villages outside Nagaland but have been living in Nagaland for generations and decades, from Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate (IIC). Exclusion of such category of Naga people, who have settled in Nagaland for generations, is not right and needs a relook.
RIIN is not the end of the road to citizenship of Nagaland, but could be the beginning for other finer factors to be incorporated in the policy. RIIN seems to be a reflection of NRC (National Register of Citizens) with a difference. In NRC, village-wise details are derived from the Census records and it is an objective exercise to ascertain citizenship by looking at old records. However, RIIN could suffer from subjective and arbitrary considerations as records will be generated by the village itself leaving scope for manipulation. If RIIN register is Census based like the NRC, old village-wise records of inhabitants living in Nagaland for generations and decades could be extracted. Regardless of whether they belong to any of the 15 Naga tribes and 4 other tribes of Nagaland or not, the inhabitants recorded in the Census since the creation of the State cannot be denied their rightful claim of being a citizen of Nagaland based on Census records.
The Government of Nagaland has referred to The Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970 under which 15 Naga tribes and 4 other tribes are notified as residents in the State, and are considered as Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland provided that the person can trace their antecedents to a recognized village in Nagaland. One tribe among the 4 other tribes is a nomadic tribe. This particular tribe has their kith and kins across most North Eastern States leaving scope for manipulation of records by the Village Verification Committee who could all be their own tribesmen. It would therefore be advisable to follow scientific and objective processes by compiling village-wise registry based on Census records of a given base year.
As Nagaland tribes have been notified in 1970, Census 1971 could serve as the source for bringing out village-wise registry. RIIN could have a category for allowing persons recorded in Census of 1971 to be given IIC with a unique code number to indicate “naturalisation” to allow those settled for generations to become RIIN naturalised citizens. Further, if the noble and patriotic slogan of “Nagas are One” is to be promoted and pursued, special provisions could be made for Nagas from outside Nagaland to settle down in towns/cities and any village in Nagaland through a process of obtaining “Permanent Residency” (PR) status after IIC with a code is given.
This would be preceded by a process of application, scrutiny, vetting and acceptance by the Town/City Verification committee or Village Verification Committee for giving PR with a code number for a specified number of years to qualify for PR status. In this manner an inclusive Nagas society could be created in towns, cities and villages across Nagaland. If the Nagas of Nagaland wish to settle down anywhere in contiguous Naga inhabited areas, a reciprocal policy of allowing Nagas from Nagaland can be carried out by the Apex Naga organisation and their Village Councils in their States. In this way, a truly inclusive universal Naga society can be built up in the lands of the Nagas with the Naga brotherhood spirit towards Naga Nationhood.
There is always hope for a better future and room for improvement. The RIIN policy needs slight tweaking firstly, to accommodate Nagas of other States bordering Nagaland who have been living there for generations and secondly, for giving opportunity to new applicants from Naga inhabited areas contagious to Nagaland state who wish to make Nagaland their home by fresh application.
After all, the occupation, tribe, number of persons, antecedents etc of the IIC seekers of PR category can all be regulated through rigorous vetting by the village and town/city committees and decision would be in their hands. I firmly believe that a truly inclusive Naga society could be build up through a regulated RIIN framework towards fulfilling the primary goal of building a strong and united Naga society and Naga Lim.
“We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end”
— Woodrow T Wilson