Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 17
Nagaland Governor RN Ravi today said that Nagaland is completely exempted from the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 as the state is now completely covered under the Inner Line Permit.
Addressing the NLA session today, the Governor said that there was serious apprehension that the act would have adverse effects on the indigenous people of Nagaland.
He however informed that the government had taken a decision to extend the Inner Line to the entire district of Dimapur in view of the concerns raised.
‘ILP process to be transparent’
As Dimapur sub division was constituted as a Tribal Belt only on November 21, 1979 by the Government of Nagaland, a distinction has been made between those non indigenous persons who settled in Dimapur before the said date and those who entered on and after that date, the Governor said.
“While the former will not require Inner Line Permit, the latter shall need to apply and obtain Inner Line Permit,” he explained
“My government will, however, like to assure everyone; especially the non indigenous persons settled in Dimapur that extension of the ILP Regime shall not adversely affect their legitimate rights and interests as citizens of the country in any manner whatsoever,” Ravi said.
He added that all efforts are being made to ensure that the process of identification of those who may not require ILP and those who will have to apply and get ILP in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner.
‘RIIN to protect indigenous people’
The Governor meanwhile stressed on safeguarding of the rights and identity of the indigenous people of the state, and claimed that the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) is a move towards that.
“The creation of RIIN will prevent the issuance of false indigenous of certificates to non eligible persons and that way will properly and effectively protect the rights and entitlements that are due only to the indigenous persons,” he added.
The creation of RIIN by clearly identifying the indigenous people of the state as well as those non indigenous persons who have permanently settled will also help in proper and effective implementation of the state, he said.
The Governor recognized that subsequent to the announcement of RIIN exercise, several issues and concerns were raised in various quarters with regard to the Commission for studying, examining and advising on all issues related to RIlN.
Once the Commission submits its report along with recommendations, the same will be tabled in the House for further deliberations.
The exact modalities of all the matters concerning the RIIN exercise will be finalized only after that, the Governor assured. He expressed confidence that with the support of all the stakeholders “we will be in a position to soon initiate and complete the exercise of RIIN.”
The Governor stated that this will be a “major milestone in its efforts to protect the interests of the indigenous people of the state.”
