By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The issue of influx of illegal immigrants dominated proceedings on the second day of the Autumn Session of the KHADC on Wednesday with majority of the MDCs favouring the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to tackle the problem.
Lone KHNAM MDC, Adelbert Nongrum urged the three Autonomous District Councils (KHADC, GHADC and JHADC) to jointly impress upon the State Government the need to implement the ILP to deal with the influx problem in the State.
While stating that the Government constituted High Level Committee on Influx is already in favour of introducing ILP, Nongrum said the pressure on part of the three Councils would further strengthen the demand to implement the same.
“With the KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem as chairman of the joint forum of the three councils, I don’t see any problem for the three to arrive at a consensus (in demanding the implementation of the ILP),” Nongrum said adding, “ILP is the only solution to growing influx.”
In his reply, the KHADC CEM said he would try to hold dialogue with the other two ADCs for sending a joint representation to the State Government in this regard.
Mylliem MDC Teilinia Thangkhiew (NCP) urged the Council to hold a symposium which would provide a platform for the MDCs, traditional heads and intellectuals to discuss the mechanisms, including the ILP, required to solve the problem of influx.
The NCP MDC also proposed that the Council should issue directive to the various traditional institutions like the Dorbar Shnong to assist the KHADC in the fight against influx and illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, Mawkyrwat MDC Enbin K Raswai (HSPDP) said that despite having the necessary tools, the Council is responsible for not being able to keep a check on the growing influx in the State.
“The Council would have been able to handle the influx problem in an effective manner if it had taken steps to implement the various provisions laid down under the United Khasi Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulation, 1959 which is meant to protect the interest of local indigenous population,” Raswai said while advocating stringent measures on part of the Council to ensure that there is proper screening before issuance of labour license to migrant workers.
Reacting to this, the KHADC CEM Syiem informed that the Executive Committee (EC) has taken a call to reduce the period for renewing the labour license from the existing one year to 179 days which is one day short of six months. Syiem also said that the EC would also direct all the Dorbar Shnong within its jurisdiction to register the residents in their respective villages and localities.
“The Dorbar Shnong should have the complete details of the people residing in the various localities and villages. It should have information like the names of the house owners, tenants and also that of the migrant workers within its jurisdiction,” Syiem said.
