Dimapur : An ad-hoc minority forum for Dimapur III has been constituted recently with its headquarters at Purana Bazar. The forum has been set in place with the objective of protecting and promoting the socio-political rights and interests of minority communities in Dimapur III assembly constituency namely, the Kachari, Garo, Gorkha, advasi and domicile Muslim communities.
Talking to The Morung Express, Mohendra Dimasa, president of the minority forum, said the forum pledges to cooperate with the Government of Nagaland in the matter of implementation of developmental schemes and other government policies. Dimasa requested the state government to ‘kindly’ recognize and bless the forum to bring about unity and progress among the minorities.
Explaining on the status of the said minority communities, the forum’s president said they are perhaps the most economically and educationally backward among all communities in the state. “Although they are nominally regarded as ‘minorities,’ they have not been “officially declared as minorities”. So, he explained, no ‘special economic package/reservation’ has been provided to uplift them through provision of employment opportunities or self-employment schemes.” Mohendra Dimasa said “unless some ‘special provision’ is provided by the state government to offer employment on special consideration, the vicious circle of backwardness of these communities will continue to erode their societies.” Dimasa hoped that the state government would redress the matter to provide special programmes to give employment to the educated youths of the said communities.
Referring to the education and economic backwardness of the communities, he said they have not been declared as ‘backward’ under any provision. ‘So the people feel deeply deprived’ he said. Dimasa urged the state government to look into the matter and find ways applicable to facilitate educated youths for employment. Facilities for higher studies to students are also requested. Dimasa cited the example of Dhansiripar sub-division under Dimapur district which houses majority of the minority communities. The forum’s president said “although the government of Nagaland has already surveyed al minority inhabited areas of Dimapur III A/C, majority of them who are staying under Dhansiripar sub-division, Dimapur have not been declared as ‘revenue village’”. For this, he said, the “patta system” has not been introduced. For this, he explained, the people of the areas feel insecure and are deprived of getting Indigenous Inhabitants Certificates (which the administration insists to be produced). This is so again when applying for financial assistance such as loans from the banks and other financial institutions are not sanctioned for not having patta of the lands, he said.
Dimasa requested the state government to ‘kindly’ direct the department in concern to issue patta for land-holders of Dhansiripar sub-division. Request was also made that the system of accepting ‘village council certificate’ in the matter of issuing Indigenous Inhabitants Certificate be made.