Kohima, May 9: The Nagaland government has approved the issuance of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates to 1,313 members of the Rongmei tribe permanently settled in the state and their direct descendants.
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| Members of the Rongmei Naga community perform a traditional cultural dance during a community event in Nagaland. (Image Credit: krctimes.com) |
According to a notification issued by the Home Department on May 8, the decision was approved by the Governor of Nagaland for members of the Rongmei tribe residing in Kohima, Peren and the erstwhile Dimapur district, including present-day Chümoukedima and Niuland districts.
The notification stated that eligible members would be issued ST certificates identifying them as Scheduled Tribe members of Manipur permanently settled in Nagaland.
It said the beneficiaries were identified and enumerated by a committee constituted by the state government in 2007.
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Eligible applicants have been asked to apply to the respective Deputy Commissioners in the districts where their names were enumerated, along with required documents and verification details.
The government clarified that the ST certificates are meant solely to enable beneficiaries to avail reservation benefits in Central Government employment and Central educational institutions.
However, the notification specifically stated that the certificates would not entitle the beneficiaries to reservation, concessions or benefits reserved exclusively for Scheduled Tribes indigenous to Nagaland.
The state government also directed that applications for the certificates must be submitted only in the districts under which the beneficiaries were originally enumerated.
