As the Naga society was still at an evolving stage, GPRN/NSCN expressed apprehension that excessive influence of outsiders could have a negative socio-political and economic impact on indigenous people.
In this regard, GPRN/NSCN MIP said that the group through the kilo (home) ministry, pursuant to Joint Council Meeting resolutions (JCMR), resolved to strictly check and monitor rampant issuing of Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) by village and town councils/GBs and the illegal practice of issuing Indigenous Certificates (IC) to individuals of doubtful identity by State government officials.
MIP said that the joint council took serious note of the matter of village/town councils/GBs rampantly issuing PRCs to temporary residents and non-indigenous residents contrary to age-old tradition and customary tenets.
GPRN/NSCN said that the such irresponsible act of issuing PRCs, by custodians of customary laws without properly ascertaining the antecedents of the applicants, was enabling persons of dubious identity to avail government benefits like obtaining Aadhar, PAN card, driving licence, shop licence, arms licence, passport, open bank accounts and even getting Central government jobs. It demanded that these dubious activities must be stopped forthwith.
Pointing out that based on residential proof, tenants were eligible to avail for various facilities, GPRN/NSCN cautioned landlords, especially in towns and cities, against letting out their commercial buildings/flats randomly to individuals coming from outside Nagaland solely for business purposes. First preference must be availed by locals under any compulsion, it asserted.
As citizenship of an indigenous individual was determined by one’s ancestral lineage from certain parent village in Nagaland, GPRN/NSCN said that if it was not certified by competent village authorities in accordance to government guidelines, no individual could be accorded a status of “indigenous citizen”. It demanded that such individuals with doubtful background should not be allowed to obtain IC or Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate.
GPRN/NSCN further said that there were numerous cases of indigenous land and building, especially in Dimapur town and its surrounding areas, having been possessed by non-indigenous residents through dubious means.
Pointing out that any person who was not an indigenous citizen was barred to own a plot of land in Nagaland, GPRN/NSCN advised the State government officials to stop issuing ICs to any person of doubtful identity.
In consideration to the plight and future of tribes and indigenous populace of the State, GPRN/NSCN called upon the village/town councils/GBs and State government officials concerned to act prudently and responsibly while discharging their duties.
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