Morung File Photo
Recommends offline registration and affordable fee, grace period, and community involvement
Dimapur, June 11 (MExN): While acknowledging the State Government for its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regulations, the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) today placed “some needful suggestions” for its implementation.
In a representation to the Home Commissioner, Nagaland, the NCD underscored that it is important to recognise ILP implementation as a continually evolving process, not a one-time measure, and that its suggestions were based on ground realities and in the spirit of constructive collaboration.
Transparency: Among others, the Council stated that it is essential to first identify and maintain an accurate and transparent record of individuals and families who are indigenous to Nagaland, particularly those who have rightful entitlement prior to December 1, 1963.
To this end, it called for the compilation of a comprehensive list of such individuals, families, and communities, and making it publicly accessible.
Likewise, there should be clear classifications and documentation for Category II and Category III residents, which would help avoid confusion for current and future generations, it said.
The NCD also called for engaging communities and entrusting them with the responsibility of verifying and identifying individuals for the issuance of ILPs within their respective areas.
As per the Council, this would significantly ease and streamline the implementation process.
Meanwhile, the NCD deemed identification of “illegal immigrants” as one of the most pressing issues in the region and called for establishing a systematic and transparent mechanism to verify suspected cases.
Such streamlining will not only enhance the effectiveness of the ILP system but also contribute significantly to maintaining demographic balance, security, and social harmony, it said.
If necessary, appropriate deportation procedures should be initiated in accordance with the law, it added.
Registrations: The NCD further noted that while the online registration system of ILP is a convenient and efficient method, in practice, it appears to be more accessible to high-profile individuals, while many members of the general public find it difficult to use.
The system currently benefits mostly those visiting the state for short-term stays or specific purposes, it noted.
Accordingly, the NCD said that it is essential to introduce an offline registration mechanism, particularly in districts like Dimapur, noting that many common people—especially daily wage labourers and workers from neighbouring states—face practical and technical challenges in accessing online services.
Relying solely on compulsory online registration risks excluding a large section of the population who lack digital literacy or access to internet facilities, and could lead to denial of ILP registration for these individuals, possibly resulting in a labour shortage, it added.
The NCD further noted that the State Government should initially focus on identifying and allocating strategic locations for the implementation of the ILP system. Once the system is effectively established at these key points, it can be gradually expanded to other locations as needed.
At the initial stage, all designated strategic locations should be adequately manned, and the Enforcement Directorate, which has been established to oversee ILP implementation, should be empowered, it suggested.
If necessary, additional workforce can be sourced from other departments and social as well as civil organisations, as deemed appropriate by the Government, and properly trained to ensure efficient and smooth enforcement of the ILP system, it added.
Fee structure and guarantor:
The Council also contended that the ILP registration fee should not be designed as a means of revenue generation for the Government but used primarily to establish and reinforce the mandatory requirement of obtaining a permit (ILP) for visiting Nagaland.
To this end, it stated that the fee structure should be kept minimal and affordable for the general public.
A low and accessible fee will help in sensitising visitors about the importance and legal necessity of obtaining the ILP, thereby encouraging wider compliance with the system, it added.
Concerning guarantors, the NCD pointed out that many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have proposed various practical options.
These suggestions should be carefully reviewed and considered by the authorities to help develop a viable and seamless ILP registration system which is inclusive, transparent, and workable for all parties involved, it added.
According to the NCD, the strict implementation of the ILP system should be preceded by a well-defined grace period, allowing already residing citizens adequate time to complete registration and fulfil necessary formalities.
It would also enable a smoother transition for the administration and public alike, ensuring the system is effectively integrated without causing undue inconvenience—particularly for citizens who are already residing in the region, it added.
Adding context to its suggestion, the NCD noted that although, the Government extended the ILP to Dimapur in 1979 to address demographic shifts and unchecked influx, implementation has remained weak due to inadequate technical infrastructure, insufficient manpower, and limited enforcement capacity.
Thus, it underscored that successful ILP enforcement depends on community cooperation and inclusivity while the process must remain sensitive to ground realities and socio-economic conditions, especially for ordinary citizens who will be most affected.
