SHILLONG, APR 17: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today assured to examine the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and other laws to deal with influx and illegal immigration into the state.
The assurance was given to a delegation of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) which met him at the main secretariat here on Tuesday.
The HYC has also submitted its charter of demands seeking legislation and implementation of strong and effective laws for all round protection and promotion of the rights of the indigenous people.
“He (CM) has assured that he would take up the demand for ILP and other laws for discussion with the cabinet ministers. After examining the matter, a meeting will be convened with us,” HYC president Peter Lawai told reporters after the meeting.
The other anti-influx laws proposed for implementation includes residential permit for immigrants/visitors, work permit system, trading and business permit, prohibition and detection of benami transaction, national registration of citizenship (NRC).
Asked, HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin claimed that the demand for implementation of ILP was a victory for the Council since other NGOs have started changing their mind by again supporting the demand.
“Even the Congress, which had rejected the demand when it was in the ruling government, had also started accepting the Inner Line Permit and its effectiveness to deal with the issue,” he said.
Though the issue was not raised during the meeting, the HYC however maintained strong opposition against the proposal by the state government for issuing of work permit to Bangladeshi nationals.
“We would strongly oppose any attempt either by the Centre or state government to encourage or facilitate influx of outsiders into the state. We will not accept if the present state government is trying to encourage Bangla nationals to come and work in our state,” Kharjahrin said.
He however said that the Council would welcome if the work permit so proposed by the state government is to regulate the coming of outsiders into the state for employment and other livelihood activities.
Meanwhile, the HYC has also sought the intervention of the state government to accord a full fledged federal state status to the state of Meghalaya and also strengthening the existing autonomous district councils.
Urging the government to resolve the boundary dispute with Assam, it has suggested the need to facilitate free, easy and compulsory land registration, deployment of security and extending of special development package in the border areas.
On the need to combat with corruption practices in the state, the Council demanded the immediate implementation of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act and Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Service Social Audit Act, 2017.
Further, it has also sought strengthening of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971 and restriction in implementation of central laws relating to land in Meghalaya besides implementation of the Right to Service Act.
By Our Reporter
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