Experts moot ILP system in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 01 2011:
An expert committee has published its recommendations and report on allowing 'outsiders' to enter and live in Manipur under a proper system by enforcing the Inner Line Permit System.
The 10-member committee headed by retired Chief Justice RK Manisana as chairman and FREINDS president Sapamcha Jadumani as convenor also included two constitutional experts, one activist, one historian, two academicians and two legal experts.
The committee's report was published at the Keishampat office of FREINDS by RK Manisana.
It is reported that the report would be submitted to Chief Minister O Ibobi and his Cabinet Ministers including the Law Minister after November 3 .
Speaking at the occasion, Sapamcha Jadumani said that FREINDS have been demanding enforcement of ILP System in Manipur since 1993 after take into account the serious challenges posed by influx of outsiders to the identity, culture, tradition, economy and polity of the indigenous people.
Following sustained people's movement on the issue, the question of enforcing ILP system was deliberated in the State Assembly in September this year followed by a Cabinet meeting on September 27 .
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The expert committee held four rounds of meeting before it came up with its report with the hope that it would help the Government to take a definite decision on the issue.
The report reminded that the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur Himmat Singh issued a notification on November 18, 1950 which scrapped the permit system for entry of outsiders into Manipur.
After the abolition of the permit system, there was an incessant influx of outsiders and it is still continuing even today, Jadumani said.
This unchecked influx has caused demographic imbalance besides threatening the identity and culture of the indigenous people.
Such influx also affect the livelihood of the local and corrupt the native language.
It is crucial to protect indigenous people, their identity, culture and tradition under the framework of Indian constitution and democracy, asserted Jadumani.
It is paramount for the Manipur Legislative Assembly to enact a new law or re-enforce the Inner Line Permit System.
RK Manisana said that the committee strongly advocates enforcement of ILP System in Manipur.
The Government may act towards enforcing the system within a constitutional framework after studying the report, he stated.
Advocate Th Manihar said that Inner Line Permit System or the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 was enacted by the British rulers to protect natives and their land.
When and how long should non-Manipuris be allowed to enter and stay in Manipur should be decided under a constitutional system or mechanism.
This would go a long in way in identification of immigrants, Manihar said.
Head of Political Science Department, Imphal College K Shethajit said that there is a provision in the Indian constitution to protect indigenous people.
He asserted that enforcement of ILP System would be advantageous to both the indigenous people as well as outsiders.