The Nagaland Assembly on Thursday deliberated on the pros and cons of implementation of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).

Leader of Opposition T.R. Zeliang said the issue should be deliberated at length before implementation. According to him, creation of the register with 1963 as the basis of categorisation without indigenous Nagas being well-defined would only victimise certain sections. He suggested that the register and inner-line permit (ILP) should not be mixed and reiterated that proper modalities should be worked out.

Zeliang urged the state government to implement the ILP in Dimapur district in the similar stringent way like other districts. He added it is only to identify non-tribals and non-Nagas.

NPF legislator Chumben Murry said Nagas as indigenous people are not well-documented. He said the register and ILP are totally different from each other. “RIIN will identify us based on certain criteria whereas ILP is more or less like a travel document which enables law-abiding citizens to come and stay for a while,” he said. He said “other important factors” ought to be spelled out so that no one is neglected in the exercise.

Public health engineering minister Jacob Zhimomi said all the members, including the NGOs, tribal hohos and civil society organisations, should be unanimous on the exercise. He said the register has merits and demerits but the former outscores the latter.

Once the register is implemented in toto, it could do away with pilferages by giving opportunity to local entrepreneurs and engaging them in development activities. It will also provide effective administration and planning since it will provide accurate data, he added.

Chief minister Neiphiu Rio said it was unfortunate that the Opposition members did not turn up for the consultative meeting on the register in Kohima last month while all the tribal hohos, NGOs and civil society organisations were present and extended their support to the exercise.

He sought opinions and constructive criticism from all sections, including the legislators, on the issue.

The chief minister urged all stakeholders to come forward and support the exercise. He added that it is important not only for this generation but also for future generations.

He said a three-member commission has been set up and its members will thoroughly examine the matter and give recommendations/report to the government.

Rio also assured the commission will make sure that corrective measures over earlier notifications are taken.

He said in the consultative meeting, all groups and organisations cautioned that proper modalities should be worked out based on customary laws and practices practised by the respective communities.