Kohima, July 14 (MExN): The Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) has called for mandatory registration of all persons residing in Kohima under the district's Census 2026 exercise, contending that those who reside in the state capital should be officially counted there.
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, the organisation urged the district administration to direct that all residents register their census within Kohima district.
It also sought a verification drive to ensure that civic benefits and welfare schemes are allocated on the basis of accurate local census data.
The KVYO argued that Kohima, as the state capital and administrative headquarters, provides substantial civic amenities, public resources and welfare benefits to all its residents.
However, it claimed that a significant number of people who have made Kohima their primary place of residence and livelihood have not registered their census in the district.
According to the organisation, such a practice leads to demographic misrepresentation and places an "undocumented strain" on the city's resources. It maintained that those who benefit from residing in Kohima should also be reflected in its official population.
The KVYO further stated that if residents continue to live in Kohima without registering their census in the district, it would "vehemently oppose" their continued access to welfare schemes, subsidies and civic privileges available in the city.
It asserted that it could not support the distribution of city resources to those who refuse to be officially counted as part of Kohima's population.
Urging the Deputy Commissioner to take "immediate and decisive action," the organisation said the proposed measures were necessary to safeguard the administrative integrity of Kohima.
