SHILLONG: At a time when several pressure groups are agitating demanding implementation of ILP system in the State, a senior KHADC member demanded that the Council should declare the Sixth Schedule areas as “protected areas” to check entry of outsiders.
While moving a motion on the second day of the Council’s Autumn Session on Wednesday, Sohra MDC Tistosstarwell Chyne said that KHADC could adopt a mechanism — Khasi Hills Protected Area Permit (KHPAP) — to check the unabated influx of outsiders.
“The Council could play a big role in preserving the identity of indigenous people by introducing KHPAP,” he said.
“There is a growing concern among various organisations including the traditional institutions over the issue of influx. We need to realize that the inflow of outsiders into the state is having serious impact on the socio-economic and political interest of the people of the state besides changing the demographic pattern,” Chyne said.
Replying to the motion, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngaiñlang N Syiem ruled out the possibility of declaring the Sixth Schedule areas as protected areas.
Syiem, while admitting that the problem of influx is a matter of serious concern, requested the members to pass the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2013. The CEM said that the Bill underscored the need to make registration of all tenants, labourers, and outsiders “compulsory.”
Labour license: Executive Member (EM) in charge Labour Teinwell Dkhar on Wednesday informed the House that the Council has so far issued 8296 labour licenses since April 1 this year.
“The licenses which were issued are both for renewal and fresh,” Dkhar said during the Question Hour. While replying to a supplementary of KHNAM MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit, he said the licenses were valid for only one fiscal year.