Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in Nagaland through a transparent, inclusive and objective consultative process while safeguarding the rights and interests of the indigenous Naga people.
The commission’s statement came after it held a consultative meeting with representatives of the Bhojpuri Samaj and Bihari Samaj in Dimapur as part of its ongoing stakeholder engagement on strengthening the implementation of the ILR in the state.
According to the ILRC, the interaction provided an opportunity to hear the concerns, suggestions and recommendations of the two organisations. It said the inputs received during the meeting would be incorporated into the commission’s study and help shape recommendations for a more transparent, practical and effective implementation of the ILR.
The commission reiterated that its consultation process has been guided by the principles of transparency, inclusivity and equal participation since its inception. It said all concerned stakeholders have been formally invited and given an equal opportunity to share their views, recognising that the implementation of the ILR affects different sections of society.
Reaffirming the NSF’s long-standing position, the ILRC stated that the Nagas are the only indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland and that the primary objective of implementing the Inner Line Regulation is to protect the historical, political, demographic, economic and cultural rights of the indigenous Naga people in accordance with the existing constitutional and legal framework.