In govt committee, but ngos firm on ILP

Shillong, Sept 10: Even as the ngos stuck to their demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state, it however decided to participate in the “High Level Committee on Influx” constituted by the government with a rider that the government should fix a “time frame.”

Ten ngos comprising of the KSU, FKJGP, HNYF, RBYF, JYF, JSU, CSWO, KWADA and others have pledged that they would continue to pressurise the government on the need to implement the ILP in the state.

Addressing media persons Monday FKJGP president Jo Marwein said,  “We the 10 NGOs have decided to participate in the ‘High Level Committee on Influx” notified by the government recently. But this time, will ensure that there will be a “time-frame” fix for implementation of the recommendations made by the committee.”

The High Level Committee on Influx will be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong as Chairman with Minister of Forest P Tynsong, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh, Revenue Minister RC Laloo, Urban Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, CEMs of three district councils, representatives from Nokmas, Syiems and Dalois, civil societies and nine NGOs as members.

The mandate of the committee is to review “Influx” situation in the state and suggests a “multi-pronged” strategy and approach to deal with it. The committee will also examine and outline the role of traditional institutions and their empowerment in dealing with the problem of influx. It will also recommend a comprehensive institutionalized mechanism to deal with influx.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within two months.

Marwein, however, said, “The first sitting of the committee is yet to be announced we, therefore,  urged the government to call for the sitting of the committee at the earliest”.

Pointing out that many committees on different issues have failed earlier, Marwein warned, “This is the last time that we are going to participate in such committees of the government for discussing on influx which is a serious issue  and we  don’t want the government to make a “mockery” of the soft-approach of the NGOs and their recommendations.”

Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president Daniel Khyriem said, ‘Apart from demanding ILP, we (NGOs) are willing to welcome any mechanisms adopted by the state government to tackle the problem of increased influx.” He, however, wants the government to put in place the mechanism within this year.

The ngos, however, took umbrage at the government’s failure to bring the ILP issue in the recently concluded assembly session discussion. – By Our Reporter