All three Bills introduced in House : CM Ibobi acknowledges need to regulate influx
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 28 2015 : As promised by the State Government, all the three Bills drafted in response to the popular demand for providing a constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people of Manipur were tabled in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The Protection of Manipur Peoples (PMP) Bill 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh amendment) Bill 2015 and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second amendment) Bill 2015 were introduced by Chief Minister O Ibobi, Revenue Minister Th Debendra and Labour and Employment Minister I Hemochandra respectively.

Once the PMP Bill becomes an Act, it will cover the whole State of Manipur.

Under the same Act, a Directorate of Registration of Non-Manipur persons and tenants would be established consisting of a Director and as many officers and staff as it may consider necessary.

At the commencement of this Act, every non-Manipur person entering the State shall register himself/herself with the registration authority.

The registration authority shall, if he is satisfied that the non-Manipur person is a bona fide citizen of India, issue a pass specifying his place of origin and the period of stay which shall not be more than six months from the date of issue.

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Every owner who lets out accommodation to a non-Manipur person shall maintain a register and a copy of the same register should be furnished to the Director, Directorate of Registration on non-Manipur persons.

Any owner who fails to furnish the names and particulars of tenants to the Director within a specified period shall be punishable with fine up to a minimum of Rs 2000 but not exceeding Rs 5000 .

The provisions of the Act shall not apply to the native people of the State of Manipur and persons employed in connection with affairs of the Union Government, the State Government, public undertaking and persons employed by a local authority or a body established by law with the approval of the State Government, high dignitaries, students of educational institutions situated in the State or such other persons as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.

Presenting the PMP Bill 2015, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that before the merger of Manipur into India on October 15, 1949, entry into Manipur was regulated by imposition of a permit system.

The permit system was abolished with effect from November 18, 1950 by a notification issued by the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur.

Since then, there is no restriction on the entry by the citizens of India.

The increase in the population has caused panic in the mind of the people of Manipur.

Of late, a mass movement arose demanding to enact a law similar to the earlier permit system so that the fear of the people of Manipur of losing their existence can be done away with a reasonable restriction in the influx of non-Manipur people.

Further, the non-Manipur people who intend to stay in the State as tenants need to be regulated with certain reasonable restrictions.

It has there become expedient to enact a law to maintain tranquillity and public order in the interest of general public by registering the non-Manipur people and the owners who provide accommodation to the tenants, Ibobi stated.

Earlier, the House observed silence for two minutes in honour of the departed souls of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and former MLA Kashetrimayum Irabot.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was not only the 11th President of India, he was also a renowned scientist at the international level, Ibobi said in his condolence speech.

Dr Abdul Kalam was one Indian national who won the maximum number of national and international awards.

Ibobi also hailed late Ksh Irabot as a man of integrity and magnanimity.

Stating he was closely associated with late Irabot even though they belonged to different political parties, the Chief Minister remarked that Irabot was a resourceful man.

He also conveyed solidarity to the bereaved family.

Opposition Member Dr I Ibohalbi remarked that the demise of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is a big loss not only for India but also for the whole world.

He too hailed late Ksh Irabot as a man of integrity.

MLAs U Surchandra, P Brojen, Dr Ng Bijoy and L Ibomcha also took part in the condolence service.