Spirit behind the demand for ILP : Looking beyond legislations
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 07, 2012 -
Checking for valid documents at Jiri Foreigner Check-post, Manipur Assam Border, by Manipur Police on 03 September 2012
Pix - Momon Thoudam
Not surprising that the Union Home Ministry has turned down the resolution adopted by the State Legislative Assembly to extend the Inner Line Permit System under the Bengal Eastern Regulation, 1873 to Manipur.
However this should not blur the spirit behind the voices raised to implement the ILPS in the State.
As evidenced by Nagaland, the ILPS has not been effective in checking the inflow of migrant workers and there is no reason to believe that it would be an exception in Manipur, if it is enforced here.
Rather it is the concern over the large scale influx of outsiders that should be appreciated.
As part of the largest democracy in the world, Manipur cannot be off limits to the citizens of the land.
An Indian is free to visit or settle in any part of the country. This is a truism that stands and defines the idea of Nationhood.
This however should not erase the fine dividing line between the natives of a place and migrants, especially when there is a real or even perceived threat of the natives being swamped by continuous waves of immigrants.
It is for this reason why Manipur and her people need to look beyond legislations or the ILPS and look inward and sincerely study why immigrants continue to knock at the door of the State.
Even today, there is no end to migrant workers making a beeline at the border of Manipur. If not for anything else, then at least the number of migrant workers pushed back at Jiribam in the last few days should serve as the eye opener.
Human migration revolves around two factors, the pull and push factors. Manipur fits the bill of a place which has tremendous pull factor.
A fertile valley, immensely habitable and attractive hill areas, salubrious climate, naturally well endowed and gifted, Manipur is this and more to thousands of people looking for greener pastures.
A vacuum in the work force, which has not been filled up by the natives, offers just the right atmosphere for large scale influx into the land.
None of the migrants arrive here to lead an idle life. A search for livelihood is what attracts them and the scope for employment available to them has been wittingly or unwittingly provided by the local people.
It is this point that needs to be addressed to sincerely and urgently if the wave of human migration to the place is to be checked to some extent.
Immigrants arrive here on the basis of one fundamental point and that is, they can earn a livelihood. In addressing the issue of large scale influx, the natives cannot afford to overlook this.
The vacuum filled by the immigrant population needs to be checked. Dignity of labour is bandied about more as a fashion statement rather than with any sincere belief or conviction in its value.
There is no better panacaea than self correction and here one does not need the nod of the Centre or the Government to address this.
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