Govt agrees to include JCILPS recommended 5 points in ILPS Bill
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 19 2015: Government of Manipur on Wednesday agreed to insert the five key points recommended by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) in the new Bill.

The five points are issuing pass or permit to migrants; fixing 1951 as cut-off base year; giving no land ownership rights to all non-indigenous people; strengthening of labour department for registration and regulation of inter-state migrant labourers, and detecting and deporting of illegal migrants.

Failure of the State Government to incorporate the five points in the earlier Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 led to withdrawal of the Bill under intense public pressure.

The development came after the third round of talks between JCILPS and Government which was held on Wednesday.

The next round of talks has been scheduled for Thursday (August 20), informed JCILPS Convenor in-charge Kh Ratan.

Govt agrees to include JCILPS recommended 5 points in ILPS Bill

The 18-member Joint Committee team led by Kh Ratan attended the meeting with the Government.

The talks began at 11 am and continued till 5 pm.

A joint statement issued by Kh Ratan and Special Secretary (Home) M Yaiskul Meitei informed the third round of talks between JCILPS and Government representatives was held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat to discuss the ILPS Bill meant for safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people.

During the meeting the State Government agreed to incorporate the five points recommended by JCILPS in the fresh ILPS Bill.

After the meeting, Ratan, however, told the media that the Joint Committee will meet Government representatives on Thursday afternoon to thrash out some issues with regard to the fixation of 1951 as the cut-off base year and deportation of illegal migrants.

A public convention will be organised on Thursday at MDU Hall, Imphal before the proposed next round of talks with the Government takes place, he informed, adding the resolutions taken at the convention will be put before the Government representatives during the meeting.

The Joint Committee leader said there will be no let-up in the ILPS movement.

He said the Joint Committee will raise the issue relating to the death of Sapam Robinhood and those who were injured during the public agitation in the next meeting with the Government.

The 18-member JCILPS team included co-convenors BK Moirangcha, advocate Arjun Telheiba, Ksh Somorendro, Haopu Kom and Md Kheiruddin Shah Moijingmayum.

On the Government side, Chief Minister O Ibobi, Deputy CM Gaikhangam, Council of Ministers, Drafting Committee chairman and Law & Revenue Minister Th Debendra, MLAs Dr Ng Bijoy and RK Anand, who are members of the Drafting Committee, were present.

3 more students begin hunger strike .

Three more students launched an indefinite fast-unto-death agitation to demand introduction of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) on Wednesday at Durga Puja Mandop in Thoubal Wangma Taba in Thoubal District.

The hunger strike, which kick-started at 9 am, was part of the agitation launched by Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) Thoubal Branch on the demand for implementation of ILPS in Manipur.

The hunger strikers are Laitonjam Anamika Devi, DESAM Thoubal President Khundongbam Rabi Meitei and Sapam Rabita Chanu.

Local clubs, civil society organizations and meira paibis in various parts of Thoubal staged sit-ins and even blocked the Imphal-Moreh road halfway demanding ILPS.