Dimapur, March 15 (MExN): The Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum has urged the Government of Nagaland to implement the Department of P & AR notification of 1977 and the Land Revenue Act (LRA) of 1978 for the protection of the indigenous people.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Forum claimed that it had unearthed “dubious methods” by which many people are acquiring properties in Dimapur. “Many contract works, land pattas, appointment in Government services are being done by obtaining false indigenous certificates” in contradiction with the 1977 notification and the LRA since the government has not strictly enforced the Act although it has become a law in Nagaland.
It said that most of the benami transactions and indigenous certificates are obtained from Dimapur and as such, requested the state government to enforce verifications along with the ward or council members and GBs.
According to the Forum, the laxity of the executing agency has put the life of the indigenous people at peril and “The indigenous people have become secondary citizens in our own land while those who have come from outside have become the land lords becoming masters over the indigenous people.”
Among others, it also urged the government to thoroughly check all benami transactions, it also asked the government to check who are executing agreements in the name of firms, obtaining indigenous certificates in the name of firms, verify signatures of issuing authorities, and to call upon the suspected non-tribal inhabitants who claim to be indigenous people by verifying the electoral of 1964.
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