ILP System in force not satisfactory: JCILPS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 08 2025: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has stated that the ILP System being enforced in Manipur falls far short of the people's expectation as it has fallen short of securing the future of the indigenous communities.

The 10th death anniversary of Lamjing Meira Sapam Robinhood was observed today at "Yelhoumeeshingi Ningshing Khubam" located at Lamjing Meira Ching (Awa Ching), Imphal East.

JCILPS members, family members of Sapam Robinhood, members of several CSOs and a large number of students attended the death anniversary function and they paid rich tributes to Lamjing Meira Robinhood.

ILP System in force not satisfactory: JCILPS

The memorial function was opened with a general salute given by students of Huieyen Langlong Thang-Ta Association, Manipur.

Speaking at the event, JCILPS co-convenor Luwangcha Chingkhei said that the primary objective of JCILPS is securing the future of all indigenous communities through implementation of the ILP System effectively.

For decades, the people of Manipur struggled for enforcement of the ILP System in the State.

The BJP Government extended the ILP System to Manipur but the system being enforced in Manipur is quite vague and it does not meet the expectations of the people and JCILPS, Chingkhei said.

While the JCILPS and the people have been demanding adoption of 1951 as the base year, the Government chose 1961 .

As such, there is a gap of 10 years.

Pointing out that all the indigenous communities including Meitei and hill people are on the same boat, Luwangcha Chingkhei said that the indigenous hill people must also play a major role in identifying non-local people.

When non-local people enter Mao area unlawfully, it is the Mao people who must identify the non-local people, he said.

He also called upon all the indigenous communities settled in border areas to protect Manipur from the illegal influx of non-local people.

Saying that the ILP System being enforced in Manipur is not satisfactory, the JCILPS co-convenor maintained that there is a need to carry on the people's movement.

A large number of people suffered casualties in the course of the sustained people's movement for enforcement of the ILP System in Manipur and Lamjing Meira Robinhood was killed in police action, he recalled.

There are reports of incursion of large numbers of illegal immigrants even after the violent crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023 but JCILPS could not monitor the entry of illegal immigrants because of the widespread violence seen in the State, he said.

Before the violent crisis broke out, JCILPS had talked with indigenous hill communities including Tangkhuls, Kabuis and Maos on the enforcement of the ILP System, Chingkhei said.

JCILPS co-convenor Md Kheiruddin Shah Moijingmayum highlighted the urgent need for establishment of a population commission and activating the same commission in order to protect indigenous people.

An expert committee must also be constituted in order to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, he said.

Md Kheiruddin Shah further highlighted the need to check the enlistment of illegal immigrants in the voters' list.

The 10th death anniversary of Sapam Robinhood was also observed at Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy.

Family members including parents of Robinhood, teachers and students of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy paid floral tributes to the portrait of Lamjing Meira Sapam Robinhood.

Sapam Robinhood's father Sapam Romesh said that his son's sacrifice may secure the future of all indigenous people and his death anniversary may bring peace and stability in the State.