Outlining the Inner Line
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 09, 2014 -

All Political Parties on ILP hand over 'Report On ILP System' to Chief Minister, Manipur on 10 Dec 2014 :: Pix - Arunkumar Thongam

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi’s recent assurance on introducing a bill related to Inner Line Permit (ILP) during the next Manipur Assembly Session has enlivened the hope that a working mechanism would soon be in place to curb the unabated inflow of migrants into the state.

The Chief Minister’s assurance came after a meeting of all political parties to discuss the issue based on recommendation by All-Political Party Committee on Inner Line Permit (ILP) headed by the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

The committee’s 280-page report, “Report on Inner Line Permit System" has been based on expressed views by eminent experts and scholars.

The Chief Minister also assured that the report would be handed over to the State Law Department for examination and formulation of a bill in consultation with Constitutional experts.

While making efforts to introduce the bill, it should be reminded that the intent of the mass movement for the introduction ILP has been prompted by the dynamics and the fallout of India’s failure to protect the interest of the people of the region despite the mechanism supposedly being implemented in some Northeastern states with relative success.

ILP as an off-shoot of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, served the British Colonial power’s interest in the resource rich region.

The regulation was imposed to prevent those who encroached from establishing any commercial ventures.

Though the textual content of the regulation may sound the same, post independent India’s objective has been vastly different as ILP was meant to serve the interests of the people of the Northeast under protective provisions envisaged by Government of India.

While assessing the merits of the introducing ILP in Manipur, one should be reminded of the nuances embedded in the contradictions of development mantra meant for Manipur vis-à-vis the fear of being swamped by migrant population.