By Toki Blah
In Meghalaya when we talk about Influx and of the unregulated entry of outsiders into the state what exactly do we mean? We can no longer afford to beat about the bush over whom and what do we mean by outsiders. For the last 40 years, for whatever reasons, the word ‘mynder’ was translated to mean foreigner when it actually means outsider or “any other than the indigenous tribal”. It confused and prevented policy makers from formulating relevant laws and regulations for the problem. Now the time has come to call a spade a spade. We can no longer afford to beat about the bush over whom and what do we mean by outsiders. By outsiders we mean non-tribals whether from across the international borders or from mainland India itself. It’s a fact that needs to be articulated in the public domain and understood. Understanding will provided answers. Shying away from this fact has brought us nothing but trouble and confusion.
As tribals we are scared that unregulated entry of outsiders into the state, other than those who already are permanent residents of the state, pose a threat to the delicate demographic balance that currently prevails. As a minority community we have a right to be concerned over our identity and future existence as an indigenous people. Fortunately for us the Constitution of India provides space for the expression of such concerns together with provisions for protection. The 6th Schedule to the Indian Constitution, for example, provides us with institutions ( ADCs) and legislative empowerment to come up with safeguards relating to our culture and tradition. Other similar Constitutional provisions also exist which can be made use of to address our fear over unregulated influx. It’s not that we don’t have solutions to the problem of influx. Trouble is some of us are convinced there is one and only one solution to the problem! Arrogance of conviction is the trouble.
The issue of influx into Meghalaya also carries another vague and ambiguous aspect which none have tried to clarify so far. What is it that we really fear from influx? In the local lingua this fear is conveyed through the Khasi expression “Ka jingrung kyrthep u mynder”- unregulated entry of outsiders. Is this the real issue? Are we really scared of outsider entry into our state? Outsiders enter Meghalaya everyday from Jorabat and exit from Ratacherra and vice versa. This type of entry sustains livelihood through tea stalls, restaurants and hotels for thousands of locals along the national highway. Similarly, thousands visit the state as tourists, businessmen and students. They stay for some time, spend money and then leave adding thereby to the economy of the state. Thousands of our own people, taxi wallahs, hoteliers etc earn their daily bread from such activities. Do we need to fear such outsiders? Therefore, if entry and temporary stay of outsiders is not the issue then what is this influx we are apprehensive of?
The influx we are scared of is something entirely different. It is made up of outsiders who enter Meghalaya for a variety of reasons but who then decide to permanently stay and take root in the state. A fact that many of us are loathe to admit is that unskilled labourers brought in by our own local miners and contractors form the bulk of this threat. Of greater concern is, there is reason to believe that there are some who enter Meghalaya with the premeditated intent to take root, by hook or by crook to become citizens, take advantage of the prevailing matrilineal system, and ultimately change the entire demography of our tribal profile. This is the influx we are really scared of. The ease with which such outsiders can take root within our society is the main concern. It threatens our culture; our traditions and our whole way of life as we know it. It needs to be stopped. We need a mechanism to control and stop outsiders from taking root. It is a problem which all well wishers of Meghalaya, Tribal and Non Tribal alike should appreciate and work together to solve.
Here a note of caution needs to be flagged. While attempting to address the fears and apprehension of this generation over influx, the integrity, welfare, happiness and security of Meghalaya as a state and the interest of our future generations should not be ignored nor placed at risk. Our generation, rightly or wrongly, has placed politics and political power as the pivot for our existence. There is doubt if this will apply for the future. There is reason to believe that the sustainability of our future generations will no longer be based on the number of political parties and inept political leaders they produce nor the number of NGOs they tolerate. The future of the Khasis, Pnars and Achiks will depend largely on the sort and type of economy they adopt for themselves. Globalisation and free market forces will dominate and dictate our choices. Govt service and our present subsistence agriculture will become outdated and redundant. Service economies based on tourism, health care, education, environment, transport and IT are clearly emerging as the backbone for livelihood options in the Meghalaya of tomorrow. Investments from outside will be the mainstay for these future businesses. What right has this generation to block, obstruct, and impede these prospects of our children? None! Then why are we doing it?
This question is being asked because in our anxiety to stop influx that threatens our future, we are coming up with proposals that will ensure the very thing we wish to prevent. We have already analysed that simple entry of outsiders to Meghalaya is not the threat to our existence. Outsiders taking root in the state is the real threat and therefore we need to come up with a mechanism to prevent outsiders from taking root. From taking root in our city, our towns and our villages. Why are we then wasting energy, time and resources talking about controlling entry into Meghalaya? Entry is not the issue. Taking root and becoming permanent residents is. Instead of fighting among ourselves; blaming each other and converting a crucial community issue into a political slanging match, why can’t we put our heads together to come up with a sustainable constitutional solution to the problem. For this we have to work together not against each other. Ego trips and capital I’s is the last thing we need. Is anyone listening?
At this juncture there is urgent need to ask ourselves if the ILP is the only answer to the problem of influx? So many seem to believe that the ILP is the panacea to our influx problem. There is reason to doubt this stand because not so long ago the Work Permit System was touted by the very same advocates of the ILP as the only answer to the same influx problem. The same types of agitations were then resorted to force the Government to take action. Action was taken but today the very same groups state that it is not working. The ILP is currently being implemented in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal. People of those states openly say it is not working. Question is, why is a non performing outdated control mechanism being forced on Meghalaya? This is not to say we don’t need an influx control mechanism. It is only to say that we need to put our heads together to come up with the most viable workable one.
No one knows everything – Not the Government; not the NGOs. No one is absolutely right, however sincere they may sound – Not the Government; not the NGOs. Anyone who says otherwise is a bloody fool and a downright liar and these are the last sort of people we need at the moment. The way out of the mess we seem to have got ourselves into is to start talking to one another. WE need to negotiate. At present we seem to be heading for another phase of agitations; civil disorder and mayhem. We have all seen it before. The office picketings, the torching of vehicles and official buildings, the curfews and the unnecessary violence. Despite the losses, the cost and the sacrifice the end result has always been zero. There has never been a winner. Everyone is a loser the greatest being society and its poor. It has happened in 1979, 1989 and in all other subsequent agitations. No reason why it should be different this time. The only time we ever emerged victorious was when we unitedly worked together towards a common goal – a Hill State called Meghalaya. The time has now come to unite and work together once again. Lets grab the opportunity. Let us not fail our communities.
(This is to inform our readers that Toki Blah’s article is appearing today as it relates to the current issue in Meghalaya. MJ Akbar’s article which appears every Tuesday will now appear on Wednesday.)