By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A Government-appointed committee comprising Ministers, MLAs and NGO leaders, formed way back in December 1999 to study the problem of influx, had discouraged any move to introduce ILP in the State saying it might affect inflow of tourists.
“A Hill State like Meghalaya has a very great potential for tourism industry. The Inner Line Permit (ILP) system may act as a deterrent/discouragement to the inflow of tourists, domestic and foreign, into the State and may adversely affect the growth of tourism in the State,” the Committee said its report prepared in February, 2001.
The committee was headed by Late T H Rangad, then Home Minister. Other members the committee included the then legislator RG Lyngdoh, the then leaders of KSU and FKJGP, Paul Lyngdoh and Ardent Basaiawmoit respectively. The representatives of GSU, JSU, SSSS, KWADA and KJWA were also members.
The committee had also deputed some members to visit Mizoram and Sikkim to assess the ground reality and to suggest whether ILP would be feasible in Meghalaya.
According to the suggestion of the committee, the extension and enforcement of the ILP in the State may have an adverse effect on the progress of economic activities since local entrepreneurs are a few and have not been able to set up worthwhile industries and other major economic activities which can offer gainful employment to the unemployed youths of the State. “Therefore the state has to depend on outside investors for its rapid economic development and introduction of such restriction like ILP will affect the movement of the people and will not help creation of an atmosphere conducive for investment and development in the State,” the report said.
Citing the technical difficulties on extension of ILP in Meghalaya, the committee pointed out that “a large number of outsiders have already settled throughout the State. The enforcement of ILP system, if it can be made applicable at all, will involve a lot of problem and disturbances”.
The committee also said that in normal situation the permit once applied cannot be denied to any body. “The ILP system may lose its force if the outsiders are determined to come and work in the State as they now appear to be “, the committee said. According to the committee, the ILP in its present form can be applicable only in some areas of the State . “It does not apply in the three districts of Garo Hills nor does its applicability in the Khasi States is determined. If the extension is sought for the whole state, a new law has to be made”, the committee observed.
The report of the committee further said that if a new law is to be made for the extension of ILP over the whole state, it may amount to the making a law relating to migration on movement of population. “This subject is covered under the Union List and it is not a subject under the State List. Therefore, the State Legislature cannot enact such law by itself. . In 1979 an attempt was made to introduce a Bill in the State Assembly for the extending the Regulation of 1873 over the whole state , but the Bill could not be considered by the House as the subject matter falls under the Union List”, the committee said. It also added that earlier, the Meghalaya Residential Permit Bill, 1973 was introduced and passed by the Meghalaya Legislature. “However, the Bill could not receive the assent of the President of India as it is related to the inter-state migration which is again a subject under the Union List”, the committee added.