Nagaland Govt notifies criteria for indigenous inhabitant certificate
Dimapur: In a bid to safeguard the interests of indigenous inhabitants in Nagaland, the state government has issued a notification outlining the criteria for obtaining an Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate (IIC).
The decision follows recommendations from the Commission on the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIN) and considers various relevant factors.
According to the notification issued by Chief Secretary J Alam, IICs will be issued exclusively to citizens belonging to one of the 15 recognized Naga Tribes and to members of the Kachari, Kuki, Garo, and Mikir (Karbi) Tribes, as specified in the Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970.
To qualify, individuals must be residents of Nagaland and can trace their lineage to a recognized village within the state.
A Village Verification Committee will be established in each recognized village to assess IIC applications. This committee will consist of representatives from various village bodies, including the Village Council, Gaon Bura, Youth Organization, School, Women's Organizations, and Church. The committee's list of members must be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner's office by January 10 each year.
IIC application forms can be obtained from all Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) offices for a fee of Rs. 200.
The Village Verification Committee will verify the applicant's claimed lineage, including the names of parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, along with their respective villages.
If there has been any adoption in the applicant's family history, they must disclose the details, which will be verified by the committee. Any withholding or misrepresentation of information could lead to criminal prosecution.
The Village Verification Committee will maintain a written record of its meetings, including attendance and recommendations for each application. This record will be available for inspection by the area Administrative Officer when necessary.
Once verified by the committee, the application form, along with supporting documents, will be submitted to the area Administrative Officer. If satisfied with the evidence, the officer will issue the IIC.