Bills for protection of Indigenous people introduced
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 28 2015 : Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi on Friday introduced The Protection of Manipur Peoples (PMP) Bill, 2015 in the emergency sitting of the 11th Session (Part-III) of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The Bill is expected to protect the indigenous people of Manipur and control the unabated flow of migrants into the State.

The other two Bills introduced on Friday include The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (MLR&R) (7th Amendment) Bill 2015 and The Manipur Shops and Establishment (MS&E) (2nd Amendment) Bill 2015 .

The three Bills have been introduced after State Government signed an agreement with the Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on August 25.The move of the government comes in response to continuous public agitation demanding the implementation of ILPS in Manipur in recent times.

The two Bills MLR&R and MS&E were introduced by Revenue Minister Th Debendra and Labour Minister I Hemochandra respectively.

The three Bills are likely to be passed on Monday (August 31).All the three Bills were part of the August 25 agreement.

Bills for protection of Indigenous people introduced

The main highlight of the PMP Bill is the establishment of a Directorate of Registration of Non-Manipur Persons and Tenants consisting of a Director and as many officers and staff as it may consider necessary.

According to the bill, the director (rank of Class-I officer of the State Government) will supervise the registration and issue of passes to the Non-Manipur persons and receipts to the owners hosting the tenants and he shall have other administrative powers and functions as prescribed.

PMP Bill Highlights .

Issue of Pass: The registration authority will issue of pass to a Non-Manipur person specifying his place of origin and the period of stay which will not be more than six months from the date of issue: the period of stay may be extended from his time to time by the Director.

Compulsory registration of Non-Manipur persons and tenants: Every land and house owner who lets out accommodation to a Non-Manipur person shall maintain a register and enter the name and particulars of every Non-Manipur persons as tenant.

The particulars of such entries are to be submitted by the owner to the Director for every fortnight.

Persons to be exempted: Those exempted from the purview of the Bill when it becomes an Act include persons employed with 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.

MLR&R Amendment Highlights .

(14 A.) Purchase of land by a Non-Manipur person: Non-Manipur persons, firms, institutions or any other similar entities who intend to purchase any land in Manipur shall submit an application to the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned where the land to be purchased is situated for obtaining the prior approval of the State Government before such purchase is made by him.

(14B.) Allotment of land: Allotment of land to Non-Manipur persons, firms, institutions or any other similar entities will be made by the Government after obtaining prior approval of the State Cabinet.

MS&E Amendment Highlights .

Amendment of section 2 Clause (6) : "who is registered with, and issued a valid identity card by the registering officer" shall be inserted in between the words "a person" and "wholly" .

Additional of new section 7A and Registration of employees: "7A (1) The Registering Officer appointed under section 5A shall also be the Registering Officer for registration of employees under this Act.

(2) Every employer shall register the names and particulars of every employee employed by him, within a week of such employment, with the Registering Officer.

The identity card issued under sub-section (2), shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of registration of the employee by the Registering Officer and shall be renewable for every one year.