Recently, Naga Hoho, the apex body of Naga tribes, has issued a warning to the Nagaland Government concerning the preparation of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). This initiative is seen as a variant of Assam’s National Register of Citizens. The genesis, implications, concerns, and potential ways forward in this matter require further examination.
Background and Function of RIIN
In 2019, the state government formed a three-member committee tasked with studying, examining, and recommending the implementation of RIIN. The functions of this committee were multifaceted. It was responsible for defining the eligibility criteria for being an indigenous inhabitant, verifying claims of indigeneity, establishing registration locations, outlining the basis for indigenous claims, and identifying acceptable documentation. However, protests from community and extremist organizations led to a suspension of this exercise.
The Aims and Process of RIIN
Since the interruption, the Nagaland government has been attempting to reinitiate the RIIN process which began in July 2019. The primary objective is curbing the issuance of fraudulent indigenous certificates that could be exploited for job applications or accessing government schemes. The RIIN will be formulated using an extensive, district-supervised survey based on official records.
Upon completion, no further indigenous inhabitant certificates will be issued, barring those for children born to the state’s indigenous inhabitants. These children would receive indigenous certificates along with their birth certificates, and the RIIN database would be updated accordingly. Crucially, RIIN will also be integrated with the Inner-Line Permit system—a temporary document required by non-inhabitants for entry and travel in Nagaland.
Nagas’ Concerns Regarding RIIN
Despite these measures, concerns abound among the Naga community. The use of the statehood date (1st December 1963) as the cut-off for determining permanent residents might exclude Nagas who have relocated from areas outside Nagaland. This may lead to the loss of property, as thousands of Nagas have purchased land and established homes in Nagaland over several decades.
In the absence of previously issued documentation, like land pattas or electoral enrolment prior to 1963, procedural issues could arise even among indigenous Nagas. Furthermore, non-indigenous Nagas risk being labelled as “illegal immigrants” with potential confiscation of their lands and properties. This could significantly undermine the collective aspiration of the Naga people for self-determination.
About the Naga Community
Nagas are hill-dwelling people, numbering around 2.5 million, predominantly inhabiting regions between Assam in India and Myanmar. The community encompasses numerous tribes settled in the state of Nagaland and its surroundings. A member of the Indo-Mongoloid Family, the Naga community is made up of nineteen major tribes, each with their unique customs and traditions.
Way Forward
Given the region’s volatility and the routinely extended Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, it is crucial that Nagaland proceeds cautiously. The RIIN should not become a mechanism for alienating insiders. The political consequences witnessed from the NRC exercise in Assam underscore this point. Other Northeastern states are likely observing the situation in Assam and Nagaland, making it essential to prevent politically charged issues from influencing the compilation of a citizens’ registry.
