NSF said that the influx of illegal immigrants has strained the social fabric of Naga society and raised questions about the future safety, security, and cohesion of our communities.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Tuesday submitted a letter to the Nagaland chief secretary for establishing an independent Inner Line Permit (ILP) commission to address inflow of illegal immigrants into the state.
Appreciating the Government of Nagaland for covering three districts which are Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland, under the purview of ILP, the NSF in its letter endorsed by its president, Medovi Rhi, and general secretary, Chumben Khuvung, stated that the letter has been forwarded in order to bring attention on to the continued “unabated” inflow of illegal immigrants into the Naga homeland.
This relentless influx threatens not only our unique identity and culture but also poses risks to our demographic balance and regional security, said the NSF while adding that the Inner Line Permit (ILP), a regulatory framework with over 150 years of legacy, was established to control and manage entry into the state, primarily to safeguard the interests, cultural heritage, and security of indigenous communities.
While it has played an important role in regulating tourist flow and entry into our region, recent years have witnessed a significant lapse in its strict implementation, NSF said that the influx of illegal immigrants has strained the social fabric of Naga society and raised questions about the future safety, security, and cohesion of our communities.
“The situation demands decisive action that transcends routine administrative measures, recognizing the urgency and magnitude of the threat posed.
In this regard, we propose the immediate establishment of a separate and independent ILP Commission dedicated to enforcing a comprehensive and robust system to monitor and manage entries into Nagaland. Such a commission should be tasked with reviewing, refining, and strictly implementing ILP protocols, with all necessary modalities in place. We further recommend that the process of establishing this commission be completed within a six-month timeframe, in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders, to ensure a collaborative and sustainable approach”, the NSF said.
This ILP commission should serve as a specialized body with a singular focus, working in coordination with local and regional authorities to address the issue at its core. It should also facilitate greater community involvement in monitoring and reporting, providing the commission with timely insights to enhance its operational effectiveness with confidence that the proposed commission would address the following:
Enforce ILP Regulations Stringently: Ensure strict compliance with ILP protocols in every district, with regular enforcement to prevent unauthorized entry.
Empower Village Councils: Encourage Village Councils to withhold Permanent Residential Certificates (PRC) and other legal documents from illegal immigrants to prevent unauthorized adoption into local communities.
Enhance Community Vigilance and Collaboration: Promote community awareness to encourage vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity, in collaboration with law enforcement.
The NSF further believed with the establishment of an independent ILP Commission is not just timely but essential to preserving the identity, security, and integrity of our homeland, for which it look forward for prompt and favorable consideration of representation from the government of Nagaland.