DIMAPUR, JULY 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Government has constituted a Commission with the objective of “studying, examining and recommending and advising into all issues relating to the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).”
This new development is being necessitated as an outcome of the views, opinions and concerns expressed by various sections of civil society and tribal bodies of Nagaland on a number of matters pertaining to the exercise of RIIN.
Several pertinent issues concerning RIIN were raised in the two consultative meeting held by the government with various tribal bodies, civil society groups and representatives of various communities of the state, a notification issued by Nagaland Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy stated on Saturday.
The Commission will be headed by Banuo Z Jamir as the chairperson and T Kiheto Sema and C Shingwang Konyak as members. Justice (retd) Zelre Angami will function as the Advisor to the Commission.
The Home Commissioner, Nagaland shall be ex-officio member secretary of the Commission and Commissioner, Nagaland and Secretary, Law and Justice will be ex-officio members, the notification informed. Further, support in the form of manpower/logistics/funds for smooth functioning of the Commission shall be provided by the Home department.
The terms of reference of the Commission would be on eligibility criteria to be an Indigenous Inhabitant, authority to authenticate claims of being Indigenous, place of registration as Indigenous Inhabitants, basis of claims of being indigenous, nature of documents that will be acceptable as proof of being indigenous and any other issues relating to implementation of RIIN including the manner in which the exercise is to be carried out.
The Commission will chalk out the modalities for carrying out its work in the manner it deems fit. It will have access to all records and documents that may be relevant to the subject and shall also be free to associate any government official or any person as it may deem fit for successful completion of the task assigned to it.
The Commission shall submit its report within three months from the date of its constitution, the notification stated.
