From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: A group of NGOs comprising the KSU, FKJGP, HNYF, CSWO, KWAADA, SSSS, RBYF, JSU, JYF and AJYWO held a public meeting at the Khliehriat West Community Hall in East Jaintia Hills District on Monday.
The meeting was organised with an aim to make people aware of the importance of implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in order to protect the identity of the indigenous tribal people of Meghalaya.
“We came here to tell the people of East Jaintia Hills that if the Inner Line Permit is implemented in the State, the people will be secure from non tribal people who are coming to our region without any terms and conditions being imposed on them,” said Joe Marwein, one of the NGO leaders.
“The ILP will not affect the coal mine owners or any local traders but it will help us and our identity to be more secure,” he added.
AJYWO president, MH Dkhar, informed the meeting that the High Level Committee led by the former Deputy Chief Minister, Bindo M Lanong, had recommended ILP but till date Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has not taken any steps for its implementation, for reasons best known to him.
Other NGO leaders including JSU president Rikut N Parien, KSU president Daniel Khyriem, JYF president P Majaw, besides others also addressed the meeting and spoke on the importance of the ILP in the State.
They also called upon the people to extend their full support in case they (NGOs) are forced to pressure the government to fulfill their demand by way of agitation programme in the near future.