Perhaps the body crying for Inner Line Permit system in the state does not understand the issues here. We all agree that there is an outsiders’ menace in the state which needs to be controlled and checked whatever the Indian Constitution says. But certainly, not the ILP way. The colonial system is a failed case in terms of protecting the indigenous population and his land. It has seriously failed in the state of Nagaland. The land and business remains in the hands of the Naga population only in name while the work-force has been almost entirely usurped by outsiders. By outsiders, we do not mean only those who came from foreign shores but migrant workers from the states of Indian mainland. The Inner Line Permit System was meant to regulate the entry of foreigners and non-locals in the region while the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) system kept away foreigners from the region. And the basic idea behind these constitutional safeguards was to ensure state support for less privileged sections of society. But have these safeguards yielded the intended results? Nagaland is a state where the Inner Line Permit system is still in operation. Have Nagaland successfully warded off the pressures of non-locals or migrants. Certainly not. In fact, illegal migration has become a matter of serious concern in the state. A study had revealed that despite the Inner Line Permit system there is a sizeable presence of migrants in the state. Nagaland recorded the highest rate of population growth in India, from 56.08 per cent in 1981-1991 to 64.41 per cent in 1991-2001. While the population growth has not been uniform throughout the state, Dimapur and Wokha districts bordering Assam recorded an exceptionally high rate of population growth. Wokha district recorded a growth of 95.01 per cent between 1991 and 2001, the highest figure for any district in the country. Evidently, the silent and unchecked influx of illegal immigrants in the state has played a crucial role in this abnormal growth. According to the study, better economic prospects and aversion of Nagas towards manual labour are the key factors which attract immigrants to the state. Once they enter Nagaland by whatever means either legally or illegally, the immigrants could easily find jobs. Be it as domestic help rickshaw puller, manual labourer or in the agricultural sector jobs are plenty as the Nagas are normally averse to manual work. After a few months or a year, these non-locals will either marry a local girl or will bring their family members and relatives. Very soon, they will acquire fraudulent voter identity cards, driving licences and ration cards. This is what has been happening in the state. In the recent revision of electoral rolls in Manipur, many outsiders had turn up for inclusion in the electoral rolls in Imphal East. Such things usually have the blessings of the local politicians. It is not only in the case of inclusion in the electoral rolls, cards and licenses could be bought at a price. If one has the right contacts and capability of paying more one can get hold of driving licences and ration cards easily. So, will be the case of Inner Line Permits and work permits. That is how the permit raj works and circumvents. And that is certainly not the way of protecting ourselves. Land laws have to be amended with a view to protect the land of the indigenous population and the once vibrant work culture has to be revived.
