DIMAPUR, MARCH 4 (MExN): The International Human Rights Council (IHRC), Nagaland State Board today submitted a memorandum to the Nagaland Governor recommending certain “exemptions” to the enforcement of ILP in Dimapur, and also measures to enable its smooth implementation.
The memo, appended by IHRC, Nagaland State Board President, Akavi N Zhimomi and General Secretary, Chingsak Konyak acknowledged that the ILP has been enforced to protect the interest of indigenous people. It however said that certain exemptions should be made to certain categories of people on “humanitarian ground.”
These include students, teachers, doctors, nurses, all prominent religious leaders, senior citizens, and differently abled and mentally challenged people.
The IHRC stated that thousands of non-indigenous students studying in Nagaland would be subjected to undue psychological stress to procure ILP. “Helping the non-indigenous students at this juncture will ensure a better scope and privileges for the indigenous students and will send out a good message to the people outside of Nagaland,” it claimed.
It further stated that the non-indigenous teaching community has been the “backbone” of the education system in Nagaland and called for exemption of the teaching community. Stressing on the requirement for professional and specialist healthcare workers, the IHRC called for exemption of doctors and nurses which will enable them to work together with the Naga medical fraternity.
Another category for exemption, the IHRC recommended, was prominent religious leaders of all religions. For non indigenous senior citizens (octogenarians), the IHRC said that the government should consider their contributions and work out modifications for their exemption from the ILP. It also called for the exemption of the differently abled and mentally challenged persons (with certificate as proof).
Meanwhile, the IHRC suggested that proper awareness on the ILP should be disseminated, rampant checking of ILP and collection of fines without the final setting up of a process be stopped, ILP booths be established in check gates and procedures to acquire ILP be streamlined.
