Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on June 26 reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting the indigenous identity of the Nagas and called for stronger enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, urging village councils, institutions and the public to work together. He made the remarks after inaugurating the Kohima Village Multipurpose Building, saying coordinated action is needed to preserve local customs and control residency rights.
Rio said constitutional safeguards under Article 371A and the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, have been vital in protecting Naga customary laws, traditions and the village governance system, and stressed these protections must continue. He described village councils as “the sole competent authorities” to certify whether a person is indigenous to a particular village.
While acknowledging that non-locals may legally live and work in Nagaland, Rio said they cannot be granted indigenous status. He urged village councils, landlords, employers, educational institutions and other stakeholders to maintain proper documentation of non-local residents to strengthen ILP enforcement and prevent misuse of indigenous certificates.
The chief minister also appealed for public cooperation in the 2027 Census, saying accurate population data is essential for effective planning and fair allocation of resources. Referring to past census exercises, he warned that inflated population figures have harmed development planning, especially in education and welfare, and called on civil society organisations, churches, village councils and citizens to ensure the next count reflects the state’s true population.
Defending Nagaland’s traditional village governance, Rio argued that village councils should continue to operate by consensus and selection rather than by elections, asserting that the traditional model fosters unity while electoral contests risk creating divisions. He described the new Kohima Village Multipurpose Building as a symbol of unity and brotherhood that will serve residents and all Nagas as a shared venue for cultural, social and community events.
Rio commended the Kohima Village Council for delivering the project with financial support from the Centre and the state, and announced additional funds to equip the facility with furniture, sound systems and other amenities. He urged young people to use government skill-development, entrepreneurship and microfinance schemes, noting financial assistance is available for trained entrepreneurs.
Highlighting the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), Rio said more than 1.7 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled and the state has spent over Rs 228 crore on cashless treatment, and he encouraged eligible citizens to take full advantage of the programme. Earlier, he called the building’s inauguration a “historic milestone” for Kohima Village and a demonstration of unity and visionary leadership in creating infrastructure for the benefit of people across the state.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/nagaland/story/nagaland-cm-calls-for-stronger-ilp-enforcement-protection-of-indigenous-identity-1414822-2026-06-26?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-06-26 23:04:00
