Dimapur, February 19 (MExN): Survival Nagaland (SN) today commended the effort initiated by the Nagaland State Government in bringing out a new format of Indigenous Inhabitant and Scheduled Tribe certificates.
Terming it a “positive approach”, SN in a press release issued by its Media Cell stated that the move of the State government shows that it is listening to the genuine call of the people. Seeking that the faith and trust of the indigenous citizens be guaranteed, SN demanded that the new provision be adopted and implemented “in a strong manner”. It however warned that SN’s mass movement will continue till a strong law is enacted.
Reacting to the news report of Nagaland-issued birth certificates being submitted by Assam residents as testimonials for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens, SN expressed resentment while stating that it is a result of “inappropriate functioning of the State machinery.” “It is really a sorry state of affairs for Nagaland when the credential of numerous unspecified birth certificates with origin in Nagaland was detected and questioned by the state government officials of Assam,” SN maintained.
According to SN, attesting and issuing of personal credentials without thorough verification is setting a dangerous precedent which will prove fatal in the future. In this regard, it stated that one of its main objectives has been to make the government, civil society, village/colony councils and headmen aware of its dangers.
Allowing the practice of issuing certificates at random to continue is only enabling “illegal immigrants” to get citizenship, it maintained. “Fresh document should be issued only after proper verification and cross checking is conducted with the applicant’s Domicile State.”
Urging the citizens to ponder how people claiming to be from Assam are availing legal documents from Nagaland, SN asserted that it will not remain mute anymore and will expose any malpractice when detected.
