Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday said once the inner-line permit system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, is put in place, the state government would do away with an ordinance that seeks registration of people from outside who visit the state.
The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government had earlier approved an ordinance by amending an existing Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016.
The existing act (MRSSA) talks about setting of district task forces and entry-exit points to tackle the problem of influx.
The ordinance (Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance 2019), however, stressed on registration of people from outside Meghalaya, including tourists who come to the state.
“The ordinance we have brought in is almost like an ILP, but it is yet to be approved by the governor. But once we get the ILP, the ordinance will be done away with because it is like an ILP system only,” Tynsong told reporters.
Tynsong, however, made it clear that whether the state will get ILP or ordinance, the government would not do away with the proposed setting up of entry-exit points, which have been mandated according to the existing MRSSA, 2016.
Asked how the state government would identify citizens of Meghalaya, both tribals and non-tribals, if the ILP is approved by the Centre for implementation,
Tynsong said with the system in place, it is easy to identify people.
“The non-tribals who are genuine residents of the state, have the permanent residence certificates (PRC),” Tynsong said.
Tynsong said whether Meghalaya will implement ILP or an ordinance, rules will be framed to ensure simplicity and easy registration of people who visit the state.
“Be it ILP or ordinance, the rules will be the same in the case of our state,” Tynsong said.
Stating that Shillong is a transit route that people going to Assam’s Barak Valley, Mizoram and Tripura and Manipur have to pass through, Tynsong said those passing through need not register.
However, those who want to stay have to register with the state government.
The Meghalaya Assembly had already passed a resolution on December 19 to urge the Centre to extend the ILP system to Meghalaya as it was done in the state of Manipur.
On the next move of the state government after passing the resolution on ILP, Tynsong said the Speaker will prepare the proceedings and forward a copy of it to the state government and to the Union ministry of home affairs.
“After Christmas and New Year, we will again visit New Delhi to meet Union home minister Amit Shah to discuss this important issue. By the New Year, the state government will take up this issue very aggressively,” Tynsong added.
Meghalaya is on holiday from December 24 to January 1 next year.
