• Stresses accountability in Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate process
• Mandatorily examine all applications, issue IICs only after thorough verification
Kohima, April 10 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio on Friday called upon Deputy Commissioners and senior district administrators to “actively engage” with Tribal and Village Councils, terming them integral to inclusive governance and effective policy implementation across the state.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Deputy Commissioners Conference 2026 in Kohima, a two-day conclave of district administrators and senior officials convened to deliberate on key governance and development issues, the CM noted, “Tribal Councils form an integral part of Nagaland’s governance framework rooted in the provisions of the 16-Point Agreement.” He urged the DCs to seek the cooperation of these bodies for informed and inclusive decision-making.
The CM mentioned that alongside Village Councils, these traditional institutions play a vital role in local self-governance, dispute resolution, and preservation of customary laws and practices. Dr Rio drew a distinction between the roles of Village Councils and Tribal Councils, noting that while Village Councils function at the grassroots level, Tribal Councils represent the collective interests of tribes and assist the State Government in maintaining law and order, promoting social harmony, and facilitating settlement of disputes.
On the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), the CM informed that the State Government issued fresh notifications in September 2024 laying down clear criteria for the issuance of Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates (IIC). The initiative, he said, “aims to safeguard the rights and privileges of indigenous inhabitants while ensuring transparency and clarity in the process.”
Highlighting the role of traditional institutions in the RIIN process, the CM said that Village Councils have been entrusted with the responsibility of verifying indigeneity through Village Verification Committees. “These committees are tasked with validating applicants’ ancestry and linkage to recognized villages in Nagaland,” he added.
Dr Rio reiterated that traditional governance systems remain central to administration in the State and called on DCs to work closely with Village and Tribal Councils to ensure effective implementation of policies in the interest of the people.
He outlined the detailed procedural framework under RIIN, stating, “Applicants must provide ancestral details, including paternal lineage up to the great grandfather along with village identification. In cases of adoption, relevant disclosures are also mandatory.”
He informed that applications, after verification and attestation by the Village Verification Committee, are submitted to the area Administrative Officer for further scrutiny. Following this, the applications are forwarded to the DC with recommendations within a stipulated timeframe.
Dr Rio stressed that DC’s must mandatorily examine all applications at their level and issue IICs only after thorough verification and clear satisfaction. He added that additional verification should be carried out wherever necessary to ensure authenticity.
Urging accountability, he called upon all DC’s and district administrations to work closely with Village Councils to safeguard the interests of indigenous inhabitants, ensuring that only genuine beneficiaries are granted Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates.
Urges accuracy in Census 2027
The CM stressed the critical importance of accuracy and integrity in the upcoming Census exercise, saying the exercise is not merely a headcount but a vital foundation for governance, planning and development.
He asserted that the Census provides crucial data on population, education, employment and living conditions, and cautioned that inaccurate or inflated data can severely distort policy decisions and undermine effective governance.
Highlighting the significance of Census-2027, Dr Rio said it will be India’s first fully digital census, incorporating mobile-based data collection and self-enumeration.
“In Nagaland, the exercise will be conducted in two phases — Houselisting from July 1 to 30, 2026, and Population Enumeration in early 2027,” he said.
Expressing concern over past inconsistencies, the CM pointed to abnormal population trends recorded in earlier censuses, which he said have affected planning and resource allocation in the state. He cited the education sector as an example, noting that discrepancies in data have contributed to an imbalance in teacher deployment, with the state currently recording a significantly low pupil-teacher ratio compared to the national average. He also underlined the constitutional significance of Census data, noting its role in determining representation under Article 332 of the Constitution.
Urging accountability, the CM called on all DC, as Principal Census Officers, to ensure “a transparent, accurate, and credible Census exercise, stressing that reliable data is essential for inclusive development and effective governance.”
Fiscal crisis and revenue challenges
Expressing concern over the State's fiscal position following the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, Dr Rio highlighted a decline in Nagaland’s share of central taxes and the absence of Revenue Deficit Grants for the 2026–31 period, which together pose significant challenges.
“The State remains heavily dependent on central transfers, which constitute a major portion of its revenue, while existing receipts are insufficient to meet routine expenditures such as salaries, pensions, and other obligations,” he said. Warning of rising deficits and potential debt burden, the CM stressed the need for structural reforms and informed that the State Government will undertake revenue augmentation and austerity measures to ensure fiscal stability and long-term sustainability.
The CM also touched upon several important governance issues including matters relating to non-Naga tribes, Inner Line Permit (ILP), Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) and the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).
