Dimapur: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio on Friday called for unity among Nagas, protection of indigenous identity, and collective responsibility to ensure an accurate Census 2027.Inaugurating the Kohima Village multipurpose hall at Ziekezou, Rio urged village councils, churches, tribal hohos, urban local bodies, civil society organisations and community leaders to ensure the upcoming census is conducted honestly and accurately.He recalled that Nagaland rejected the 2001 Census due to abnormal population growth figures linked to inflated enumeration, while the 2011 Census recorded a population decline. Rio said inaccurate census data affected planning, resource allocation, education and welfare schemes, and appealed to citizens to ensure the 2027 Census reflects the state’s true demographic picture.“The data we provide today will determine the future of our children for decades to come,” he said, urging active public participation in the census process.Rio highlighted Nagaland’s traditional institutions, noting that the British administration recognised the distinct identity, customs and self-governance systems of the Nagas, leading to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which introduced the Inner Line Permit system. He said these safeguards continue under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.Emphasising the role of village councils, Rio said Nagaland was exempted from the 73rd Constitutional Amendment because of its traditional system of local governance. He said village councils function through consensus-based selection rather than electoral contests, preserving unity within villages and preventing divisions.On the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), Rio said the exercise was introduced to protect the rights of indigenous Nagas following instances where indigenous certificates were allegedly issued to non-Nagas.
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