NEW DELHI:
The scenic beauty of Meghalaya may come in the way of implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
In its efforts to explore the possibility of implementing the ILP, the Ministry of Home Affairs recently called for an inter-ministerial meeting with the Ministry of Tourism, where the latter raised objections over the issue saying, “implementation of ILP will hamper the tourism prospect of the state”.
Talking to The Meghalayan, a senior government official, privy to the meeting, said that the officials of the Home and Tourism ministries shared their views on the issue. “The tourism ministry has some reservations about implementing ILP in the state. According to the ministry, ILP may hamper the tourism prospects in Meghalaya,” the official said.
The inter-ministerial consultation meeting that took place in here was also attended by the representatives from the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER).
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Tourism has prepared a road map for developing tourism hotspots in the state.
“Meghalaya and other states of the North East have great tourism potential and it’s time to tap it,” the official said, quoting the Tourism ministry representatives.
The meeting assumes significance as the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) government in Meghalaya and several other organisations have been demanding ILP in the state. They feel that ILP will be able to check illegal influx into the state.
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had adopted a unanimous resolution in December 2019 urging the Centre to implement I L P in the state under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and all members across party lines, including the ruling BJP, supported it.
The one day special session was conducted with the sole intention to pass the resolution in view of the demand by the indigenous residents of the state for implementation of the ILP.
Subsequently, the Meghalaya Assembly had passed the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill (MRSSAB), 2020 to regulate the entry of outsiders and tenants in the state.
In the North East, the ILP presently exists in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. It was also implemented in Manipur last year after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government demanded the same.
If implemented, people from other parts of the country will be needing a permit to enter Meghalaya.
There is a general feeling amongst the indigenous people of Meghalaya that a system such as ILP will be able to check the entry of “outsiders” into the state and thus protect their lands and traditions.
There is a fear among indigenous people of Meghalaya, which shares its 443-km border with Bangladesh, that if influx of “outsiders” is not curbed, they will lose their lands, identity and future.