By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The issue of implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State and its Economic Implication in Meghalaya was discussed at large by prominent persons ranging from intellectuals, politicians to NGO leaders.
While local NGO leaders reiterated their stand on the need to implement the ILP to curb influx, the intellectuals and politicians on the other hand spoke at length about its impact in the long run while doubting the ILP as the only solution to solve this problem.
Participating in a panel discussion held at St. Anthony’s College here on Saturday, former Home Minister RG Lyngdoh pointed out that besides posing as a threat to the labour sector of the State, the issue of influx will have a demographic impact is a genuine concern.
Reasoning the factor contributing to the increased inflow of outside labourers, Lyngdoh observed that it is mainly due to the fact that our own people are not ready to take up jobs be it in the unskilled, agricultural and construction sectors adding that these are such sectors in which the State had to depend on the work forces from outside.
“If the Inner Line Permit is to be look at as a definite mechanism, no doubt the labour cost will go up” while asserting that the solution to check inflow of migrant labourers is for the State government to equip the Labour department with the required manpower and teeth to implement the existence laws.
On the same note, NPP leader Conrad K Sangma stressed on the need to come up with a multipronged solution with a wider perspective which can tackle the problem in the short-run and long-run.
Putting his point across that that the ILP alone will not be sufficient, Sangma stressed on the need for a strong work permit and other mechanisms which can safeguard the interest of the local people while at the same time, not preventing the entry of genuine non-tribals into the State.
The social activists on the other hand, reiterated their stand on the need to implement the ILP to check influx.
Stating that Meghalaya has over the years, witnessed a huge inflow of outsiders entering the state freely due to absent of a proper mechanism, FKJGP President Joe Marwein said the demand for ILP is genuine as it is the only solution to tackle the problem of influx.
Refusing to accept that the ILP will hinder economic growth of the State, Marwein said this mechanism will, infact act as an official document to keep check on anyone who enters the state.
On the similar view, KSU NEHU Unit president questioned that assurance of the State government to put into place a more effective mechanism than the ILP while asking “Why is that the problem of influx still there?”
“ILP is not absolutely prohibiting people from outside but to check and regulate influx which is a problem to the state,” he said adding that ILP is the need of the hour as it is an effective mechanism to counter the problem.