By James Perry
I have been a silent observer of all the letters, articles, meetings and comments about the Inner Line Permit (ILP). There have been some interesting and thoughtful ones and others from those who just seem to have jumped on the bandwagon of a topic which they really know little about. One of the more passionate writers and one who shows signs of actual research into the Act is Morning Star Sumer. I would be the first to step away from argument regarding the regulations and the first implementation of ILP and all its former reasons, with one who has researched it, such as him. However, I would like to bring forth some of my own thoughts and cautions.
Any system has its good points and its flaws: To say that ILP is the answer is a limited view of what will happen in the future. Getting caught up with the ILP somehow protecting the indigenous people and the transfer of land is saying that the problem of land transfer is because of some Act that is not directly directed at Land Transfer or that within the system now, there is no protection. As far as I see, protections are there. It is the misuses of those protections that are the problem. With or without ILP the problem is still that there are those who manipulate the system to their own short term benefit. I think it is inappropriate to mix up ILP with The Land transfer Act. The land transfer issue needs to be dealt with on its own not in conjunction with the ILP. Today it is the local people who have abused the system of Land Transfer, mainly, I believe because of the value being put on it. The tradition of inheritance of hereditary property is disappearing. As soon as land is traded with cash, and the demand is there then the system is warped. Just go to many rural areas of East Khasi Hills and Bhoi and many others. One will see that entire tracks of land have been bought by rich people then sold in small packs of only 2000 to 5000 sq. feet; sometimes even less and at ever increasing prices. All in the end displacing the poor and making the rich richer.
These lands at one time in the past were not allowed to be bought and sold. Now there are being traded on the open market, that did not change because of presence or non-existence of ILP and it will continue with or without this proposed Act. There are now land agents whose only cause is to find a seller and connect with a buyer to make their substantial commission – far above what most real-estate agents in western countries could ever fathom. These agents have little morals and will deal with almost anybody, there is and as far as I can see there are no regulations on them. They are often the ones making deals with non-indigenous people to buy land in others’ names – Why? Because land has become a commodity. If you look at land prices just 10 years ago in Mawlai and the prices now, it is phenomenal and unaffordable by many who do earn an honest living.
The point is, if protection of indigenous people is the goal, one should not be implementing a permit system set up in 1873. A new system should be implemented and developed. The modern day indigenous person does not require the same protections as in 1873. Things have changed and so too the circumstances. What they require is up for debate. Naturally any minority needs protection but one cannot expect that a single ILP system is the answer. Those of us who have been on the side of getting ILP and RAP in North East India, understand the bureaucracy involved in getting a simple document to travel in areas that we just want to visit and not be part of. It is often easier to go for a visit to many foreign countries like Thailand, Malaysia and others than to travel to areas in North East India. The majority of travellers are just passers-by and they are persecuted for the minority whose entry could be checked by some other regulation. If you want better control of Land Transfer – get regulations for Land Transfer. If you want regulation for outside labour in the State – get regulation for Outside labour. All regulations should be specific to the areas one wants to control. If a person wants to become a permanent resident of an area, the regulation should deal with them, not the ones who are in and out in a week to 10 days.
As Morning Star states: ‘One may find many obstacles in the way of development, but, ILP is not among them. If the race should eventually be removed from the planet, ILP will not be the cause of it.’ Conversely: Implementation of ILP will not stop the many causes of the disintegrating present indigenous society. Nor will implementations of ILP stop the causes that might remove the race from the planet. There are much bigger issues at play that may eventually remove the race from the planet, and these issues should be approached with a much greater passion than that given to the implementation of ILP.
Nor will the wishes: to keep culture and ethos of living and acting on the belief in of existence of God with or without a particular name, (2) respectfully acknowledging progenitors – maternal as well as paternal, (3) earning my livelihood honestly – sans corruption which all sane people should abhor; to share the Earth with others of my own kith and kin as equals, be protected by a strong Land Transfer Act.
A strong Land transfer Act is maybe needed but it is a humanly endeavour for our time on earth. Many of the wishes stated are more from a spiritual side and should be approached from that side.
(The author runs Cultural Pursuits a tourism agency and can be reached at [email protected])