Give teeth to ILP enforcement: JCILPS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 28 2021: Stating that the Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines 2019 which are in place are not adequate to check the inflow of non locals into the State, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has appealed to the State Government to work out proper guidelines that clearly define who the native/indigenous people of the State are amidst the struggle against the Covid pandemic.

In a statement, the JCILPS further urged the Government to adopt 1951 as the base year for identification of non indigenous people and to maintain a population record by making a register of citizens.

The committee also demanded establishment of a Manipur State Population Commission to bring about a complete census report and to carry out a delimitation exercise based on the unambiguous census date.

Saying that the people of Manipur are yet to be benefited by the ILPS despite it being operational for over a year now, the JCILPS contended that there seems to be no regulation on the entry of non locals into the State at all.

The committee stated that the Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines 2019 will be ineffective in saving the identity of the indigenes unless it defines who the natives are.

Continuing that the restrictions placed on sale and purchase of land, was lifted on July 7, the JCILPS asked whether the Government has formulated a new guideline to identify the indigenous people.

Further asking if the Government is going to count every person who possesses Permanent Residence Certificate as a native of Manipur, the JCILPS urged the Government to cancel the order that lifted the restriction placed on sale and purchase of land.

"What is the point of having a State Government if they can't even utilise the power given by Acts and Regulations and always has to seek Centre's suggestion for everything," the committee asserted.

Maintaining that Manipur will be overwhelmed by the onslaught of non locals once the State is put on the railways map, the JCILPS urged the State Government to consider their demands and do the needful at the earliest.

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