The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has asserted that its ongoing stakeholder consultation process on the implementation of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in Nagaland has been conducted in a transparent, inclusive and participatory manner, with equal opportunities extended to all concerned organizations.
In a statement, the Commission said it had undertaken extensive efforts to engage stakeholders by issuing official communications and public notices inviting non-local organizations to participate in consultations concerning the implementation of the ILR in the state.
According to the ILRC, the consultation process was initiated in good faith, recognizing that the implementation of the Inner Line Regulation affects a wide range of stakeholders whose views and concerns deserve consideration.
The Commission informed that it has already completed day-long interactive consultations with representatives of the Marwari Samaj, Muslim Council and Bengali Samaj on June 13 as part of its efforts to gather feedback and recommendations from non-local communities residing in Nagaland.
In this regard, the Commission clarified that organizations which chose not to respond or participate despite being officially notified cannot later claim that they were denied an opportunity to present their views, concerns or recommendations.
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The NSF further emphasized that organizations claiming to represent the interests of their respective communities also have a responsibility to engage constructively on issues of public importance, adding, “Choosing to remain absent from such consultations is a conscious decision for which the concerned organization alone must bear responsibility.”
The ILRC said the Commission would proceed with the consultation process and formulate its recommendations on the basis of the views and submissions received from participating stakeholders. It said the absence of any organization from this process shall not diminish the legitimacy or credibility of the Commission’s stakeholder consultations.
The NSF reiterated that meaningful dialogue is founded on participation, not on commentary after the fact.
“Organizations that decline the opportunity to engage during the consultative process should not expect the Commission to revisit recommendations on grounds that they were not heard when every reasonable opportunity had been extended,” it stated.
