Dilemmas of ILP

Koijam Shiva Singh *

A human-chain formation during a pro-ILPS rally on July 21 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

There seems a discrete and indispensable line of thoughts that needs to take cognizance of by both the state government as well as the JCILPS that any articles no matter how worth it is needs to should fall within the ambit of the Indian constitution and statutes containing wishes and aspirations of the indigenous people. Otherwise, a single PIL from unknown quarter no matter what or who he may be is enough to delay the process or even block such laws in the court of law.

So a mutual understanding and workable statutes should be formulated wherein a tangible timeframe should be set to absorb and regulate any inconveniences which are going to be faced in the implementation of such act to which both parties were involved –indigenous and non-indigenous residents of the state of Manipur.

One step backward now and five steps forwards in the future is what some people view as a ray of hope to come out of this tangled complex scenarios spiraling out of control and rolling towards a more chaos and dormant volcanic situation which can erupt anytime making it indistinguishable.

1. "Converted Resident" Status to Non-Indigenous People

1. With year 1951 as base, all non-indigenous people of the state before the state attained Statehood should be tagged as converted non-indigenous under certain mandatory terms and conditions without fulfilling those their status would be termed as migrants and has no rights whatsoever in any walks of life in the state – legal or non-legal, governmental or non-governmental spheres.

2. Amendment of Land Acquisition and Regulation Rights.

A. Inheritance to immediate sons or to daughters only (in case of no male children under sole condition that the female heir should got married with indigenous people who de jure has no rights whatsoever under any circumstances or condition to sell the acquired property movable or immovable to other non-indigenous resident of the state) born by parents before the state attained statehood and permanent resident in the state with valid election card enrolled in the state electoral roll and has exercised universal franchise for the last three consecutive assembly elections.

B. No right whatsoever under any circumstances or condition – legal or non-legal for the non-indigenous, converted permanent resident to sell or move movable or immovable properties to other parties other than to indigenous people of the state and that the later has no right whatsoever under any circumstance to transfer or sold or move the acquired property to any non-indigenous resident again in the future.

C. Mandatory requirement of special permission to visit state by:

(i) Relatives of converted permanent resident of the state for sole visit purpose.

(ii) For starting a business or continuing the old business.

(iii) Friends, family members, colleagues, bosses, etc. of the indigenous people for limited period of time which may therefore prolonged with the same procedure and as deemed appropriate by competent authority.

Failing the above enclosures in subheading C. a fine or jail term or both can be served in case of severity of the crime committed as deemed appropriate by competent authority assigned for the job.

D. No land ownership rights to indigenous persons who got converted, adopted, married to a non-indigenous non-converted person or their siblings or relatives.

3. Detection and deportation of illegal migrants which does not fall under the converted non-indigenous residents.

4. Jail term of 10 years or fine or both to those who knowingly or unknowingly aid in the conversion of those non-indigenous to converted non-indigenous peoples including employees of the state government.

We hoped this way on we can find a tangible solution which is acceptable to parties involved with a little bit of consideration to them also so as no hiccups could arise that hich either would hinder the passage of the bill or the fear of being blocked in a court of law by a simple PIL.

With the passage of time or with a generation, rights of indigenous people would be protected de jure and de facto. A bill can't be passed today and those non-manipuris can be deported overnight or within 5 years. It should be systematic and slow but steady process, otherwise it will end up in chaos only and no long lasting solutions can be sorted out.