Editor,
The Assembly Election tempo is heating up and with it the reheating of issues long kept in cold storage. One such issue is Influx and this time too, as usual, it’s once again being flagged by NGOs of the state. No one doubts the existence of the problem; none question the need to come up with a practical and workable solution to contain influx. Of doubtful integrity is the ILP, an anachronism of Imperialistic vintage that is being offered as the panacea for Meghalaya’s influx problems. The thinking seems to be – we need a solution and if there’s a hangover from colonial times that claim to handle the problem, why not use it? Whether it’s the best solution available is not the issue. It’s there; it requires no further thinking; so it must be the best. So we have an uncaring proposal to juxtapose outdated 19th Century colonial regulations on 21st Century Meghalaya requirements! Is this acceptable? Are we really incapable of coming up with anything better or are we too lazy to do so?
Amidst this populist clamour “that the easiest must be the best”, reference is made to articles in the Shillong times (a) ‘Politics of Inner Line Permit’ ST 30th Oct by RN Ravi and (b) ‘Inner Line Permit -Counter Point’ ST 31st Oct by AH Scott Lyngdoh. Both writers come with an impeccable experience of understanding of states and people where the ILP has been in operation ever since 1873. What impresses is that both also attempt to highlight the ILP against its historical, present day and future implications. As a state looking for an answer to the vexed question of unregulated influx, the indictment of both these experienced NE hands of the ILP and its effectiveness as an influx control mechanism, needs to be seriously taken note of, strident and raucous cries from the ignorant, notwithstanding.
Cognizance must be given to the fact that influx (entry of those who pose a threat to the ratio of demographic balance) seldom occurs without the assistance of local patrons who tend to shield and protect illegal migrants. In ILP states, local organisations, contractors etc shield and provide a support base for cheap migrant labour ( AH Scott Lyngdoh) . Meghalaya’s coal barons and contractors are doing the same while politicians patronise because of the vote bank involved. ILP beneficiaries will be facilitated to overstay their visit; merge and blend with the existing non tribal community in the state. It will defeat the very purpose of our intent. Of concern is do we have the resources, financial and HR, to monitor and track all such ILP infringements? Of greater concern do we have the political will to do so? Doubtful! Will ILP officials be above corruption? Any one willing to give a guarantee on this score?
There is no dispute over the need for an Influx Control Mechanism but before that, of greater need is to identify, evaluate and compare alternate strategies. The contention here is let’s not put all our eggs in the ILP basket, however easy and attractive that might be. Panic and mass hysteria will get us nowhere. The key is to apply our minds to the problem coolly and methodically and let’s not think only of today. We need to apply our collective minds on the needs of tomorrow. What we really need right now is to identify the best option available to us. We need to anticipate what our future generations will require and the environment they need to live in. It’s called visioning and sadly there’s very little of it in evidence. Let’s not fail ourselves and better still let’s not fail our children.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email