By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The High Level Committee (HLC) on influx on Tuesday unanimously resolved to recommend implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State to protect the local indigenous population from the onslaught of illegal migrants.
“We have decided to recommend to the State Government to implement the ILP to address the issue of influx,” Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong, Chairman of the HLC, told reporters after the final sitting of the Committee on Tuesday.
However, in an attempt not to suppress suggestions made by other members of the Committee, it has been decided that the report to be submitted to the State Government would have a mention of the other proposal favouring the three tier-card system to tackle the problem of influx.
“The three-tier identity card system would not form part of the recommendation. However, we would mention the same in the detailed report,” Lanong said.
He informed that the committee would be submitting its final recommendations to the State Government within a day or two.
“We have agreed to allow the NGOs to have a glimpse of the final recommendation before it is submitted to the Government. As the Chairman of the Committee, I would want that each and every member is satisfied with the recommendations being made to the Government,” Lanong said.
“The final call on accepting the recommendation would rest with the Government which has the liberty to either totally reject the recommendation of the Committee or partially accept the same.
Lanong admitted that there was pressure from NGOs on the Committee to recommend implementation of the ILP system.
Earlier, during the deliberation, majority of the NGO leaders had insisted that the Committee should recommend nothing other than the ILP.
KSU president Daniel Khyriem stated that the Government should first implement the ILP since it is the best possible mechanism to tackle the growing problem of influx.
“After implementing ILP, the Government can always consider other mechanisms like the three-tier card system to maintain strict vigil on entry of illegal immigrants,” Khyriem said, while adding that it would not be a wise idea to recommend both the ILP and three-tier card system to the State Government since it might further complicate the whole process.
Echoing the same views, HNYF general secretary Sadon K Blah said that the recommendation of the ILP does not mean that the State Government cannot come up with a fresh legislation to tackle the problem of influx.
“The Government is free to make any laws even after the ILP is implemented. We are insisting on ILP since it a time-tested mechanism,” Blah said.
Other members like Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, ICARE president Toki Blah and former State Chief Information Commissioner GP Wahlang were of the opinion that the Committee should recommend both the ILP and the three-tier card system.
However, it remains to be seen whether Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who is against implementation of the ILP system in Meghalaya, would accept the recommendation of the HLC.
In August last, the Chief Minister had stated that if anyone is trying to enter Meghalaya as an illegal immigrant or as an intruder or with the intent to commit some crime, he will cleverly plan his itinerary on how to avoid those areas where check points exist.
“What we need is a mechanism to have a complete mapping of people staying in each and every locality. This is what we are planning to do. It is a much more effective mechanism than the ILP,” Dr Sangma had stated.
The HLC on influx was formed in September and had held four rounds of talks including the one on Tuesday before finalizing ILP as the mechanism to fight influx.
Meanwhile, Lanong informed that the tenure of the Committee would end as soon as it submits its recommendations to the State Government.