CM Neiphiu Rio during the inauguration of the multi-utility hall of Gorkha Public Panchayat Kohima on November 17. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 17
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today assured the Gorkha community that the government would look into the possibilities to make them not only permanent residents but make their lives more comfortable.
Rio said this while inaugurating the multi-utility hall of Gorkha Public Panchayat Kohima (GPPK) here on Wednesday morning.
Maintaining that the government is in the process of Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), the CM said, “You will also figure in that because you are already recognized as Indigenous Non-Naga Local Residents of Nagaland,” as mentioned in the State Government Gazette Notification on October 22, 1974.
“This time exercise of RIIN, the government will also exercise how to strengthen your position as already recognized,” he stated.
We have other four recognized tribes, Kukis, Kacharis, Garos and Mikirs/Karbis who have their villages inside Nagaland much before Indian Independence and also statehood, he said.
Stating that they are also recognized as Non-Naga Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland, Rio told the Gorkha community that “Therefore, your category will fall in that and government will think and see what will be best for all of us,” the CM assured.
Earlier, GPPK president Santu Thapa said that with regard to the settlement of Gorkhas in and around Kohima, there were 166 houses as per Gazette Notification by the Government of Nagaland in 1974. The early settlements of Gorkhas were in Daklane, Kitsubozou (Chotobosti), Hospital Colony, Piphema, Zubza, Aradhura and were largely populated at Chandmari prior to December 31, 1940, Thapa said.
The members of the Gorkha community are living with peace and harmony with our Naga brethren, he said.
He stated that in the aforesaid Gazette notification “we were given certain privileges such as (i) equal property rights (ii) equal educational facilities and (iii) equal facilities for industrial license and loan.”
Expressing gratitude to the Government of Nagaland for extending such facilities, he however stated that “in order to lead a decent and respectable life, a means of sustainable livelihoods have to be ensured as we do not have any option than to rely on job opportunities. The people of Gorkha community who have been settled permanently in Nagaland have no place to go out but to live and die here in Nagaland.”
In this, Thapa made a plea to Chief Minister to look into the genuine problems and requested that the government comes out with policies so that the basic means of livelihoods are ensured.
“We are not seeking equal employment rights at par with Naga brethren but shall be grateful if we are treated at par with other minority tribes settled in Nagaland. We hope that your good office will look after it benevolently and consider the same,” Thapa added.
