JCILPS memo seeks NRC with 1951 base year
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 05 2024: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has submitted a memorandum to the Governor highlighting six demands including initiation of process for implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur with 1951 as the base year.

Apart from the proposal for conduct of the NRC, other points mentioned in the memorandum signed by JCILPS convenor Thiyam Sharatchandra include revision of the Manipur Inner Line Permit (Amendment) Guidelines, 2022; monitor function and effectiveness of ILP implementation in Manipur at various entry/exit points; ensure fully functional Manipur State Population Commission; delete non-local voters and individuals with past criminal records, etc.; and check infiltration of refugees from Myanmar due to the unrest situation in the neighbouring country and deport them at the earliest possible.

Pointing out that NRC has been implemented in many parts of India including Assam in 2015, the JCILPS expressed concern that demography of Manipur is undergoing adverse effect owing to unrestrained influx of illegal immigrants.

It mentioned that the population of Manipur has increased from 5,77,635 in 1951 to whopping 28,55,794 till 2011 .

During the on-going conflict substantial number of foreign nationals mainly from Myanmar have intruded into Manipur and as such there urgent need to implement NRC in the state with 1951 as the base year.

The memorandum maintained that since the permit system for entry and exit from Manipur was abolished on November 18, 1950 by an order of Himmat Singh, the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur, the base year of NRC should be December 31, 1951 so as to prevent influx of illegal immigrants, it reasoned.

Stating that objective for demanding ILP System should not be to generate revenue from the outsiders but to check illegal immigrants from entering the state, JCILPS suggested that more emphasis be given to the exit rather than entry of outsiders.

In case of failure to comply with these demands, the volunteers of JCILPS will take up the case directly, it affirmed.

Bringing out the rationale behind demanding full functioning of the Manipur State Population Commission, JCILPS said that aims and objectives of establishing the commission were to formulate economic, social and cultural planning based on its data which is more specific than the general census of the country.

It is aimed to distinguish the illegal Myanmarese Chin-Kuki foreigners who are the major cause for the present crisis in the state.

Therefore, experienced and sincere staff need to be entrusted for a full-fledged and functional commission to achieve objective of the same.

While maintaining that the non-locals with ILP along with illegal immigrants should be deleted from the voters' list, the memorandum also said that around 6000 Myanmarese nationals who fled their country following the civil war are in, Manipur and taking shelter in refugee camps at Wangli, Pheikok and Sangkalok under Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.

The government should ensure that they are deported on time lest they get mixed up with the local population.

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