State cabinet has decided to hold broader consultations with various apex tribal bodies over demand to implement the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). 

Sources said that the cabinet will then issue a notification on RIIN after consultations. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held at the State Civil Secretariat here Wednesday where various other issues were also discussed.

It may be mentioned that on February 2 the Joint Committee for Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) asked chief minister Neiphiu Rio for passing a legislation to make RIIN an Act during the last assembly session. The demand also drew massive support from several apex tribal bodies and civil society organizations. Following a crucial consultative meeting with apex tribal bodies and CSOs on March 12, JCPI said it had decided to make public representation to the State government to demand immediate action on the Banuo Commission’s report and pass an ordinance within March 31 to implement RIIN, with December 1, 1963 as cut-off date and year. Peace rallies were also held in several districts to pressurize the state government to implement RIIN.

JCPI urged all tribal apex hohos to attend a consultative meeting for the next course of action with the expiry of the deadline and asserting that the demand was “non-negotiable”. JCPI was yet to inform about the venue, date and time of the meeting.