House okays MRVT&MW; Bill 2015
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 16 2015:
The Manipur Legislative Assembly today passed the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill 2015 even as five Opposition MLAs walked out of the House.
The Bill first introduced in the House on March 13 was debated for two hours before it was finally passed today.
Laisom Ibomcha, Dr I Ibohalbi, Th Shyamkumar, K Shyam, Y Erabot, Kh Joykisan and Samuel Risom took part in debating the Bill.
Initiating the debate, Chief Minister O Ibobi recalled that the State Assembly took a resolution and forwarded the same to the Centre in favour of implementing the Inner Line Permit System as the same system is being enforced in the neighbouring States of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
But the Government of India turned down the proposal.
Nevertheless, in accordance with the aspiration of the people, a Bill was prepared after incorporating the recommendations made by the All Political Parties Committee and it was this Bill which was tabled in the House on March 13 .
Clarifying certain points raised by some Congress and Opposition MLAs, Ibobi maintained that 50 to 75 per cent of the recommendations made by the All Political Parties Committee have been incorporated in the Bill.
Ibobi made it clear that he personally supports the movement being spearheaded by JCILPS and other civil organisations as it is in the interest of the State's future.
The demand to issue permit or pass to visitors has been incorporated in the Bill but the State Government does not have the authority to sort out migrants by taking 1951 as the base year.
It would be practically very difficult.
Prevention of migrants from becoming land owners in the State demands thorough discussions in view of the fact that Manipuri people have bought land in different States of India, Ibobi said.
Transformation of Labour Department into a major department as demanded by JCILPS has also been listed in the Bill.
Identification of migrants from other States of India and abroad would not be very difficult if the 40 MLAs of the valley are cooperative enough.
The Chief Minister also informed Revenue Minister Th Debendra's proposal to find out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who have sneaked into Jiribam.
Stating that referring the Bill to the Assembly's select committee would further put away people's aspiration, Ibobi urged all the members of the House to pass the Bill.
Debating the Bill, Laisom Ibomcha said that 'migrant worker' as inserted in the Bill can be avoided as there are already eight Acts/rules which can deal with such matters.
He then pointed out that the Bill does not specify who would handle the parts of offence and penalty.
People who have been demanding enforcement of ILPS may accept if the Government urges the Centre to extend the Immigration and Expulsion Assam Act 1950 to Manipur.
Dr Ibohalbi contended that most of the recommendations made by the All Political Parties Committee have been left out of the Bill.
It appears that indigenous people of Manipur have no place at Khwairamband Keithel.
He also expressed strong suspicion that the Governor may not approve the Bill on account of the term 'migrant worker' as it is included in the Union List..
MLA Th Shyamkumar suggested the House to refer the Bill to the Select Committee instead of passing it in haste.
Y Erabot pointed out that the Bill has no provision to identify migrants or prevent them from becoming land owners in the State.
As the ruling MLAs insisted on passing the Bill today in its present form, Shyamkumar raised his voice.
As the Bill was about to be passed, Dr Ibohalbi, K Sarat, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykisan and Samuel Risom walked out of the House.