SHILLONG: Ten months after passing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Bill in the State Assembly, the state Cabinet on Friday finally approved the rules for the Act to ensure “enhanced security” of the citizens by preventing illegal immigrants from gaining shelter in the state.
Speaking to media persons after approving the rules in the Cabinet, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the Act and rules would be notified on August 14 and added that the draft rules were deferred by Cabinet on few occasion earlier since Cabinet wanted factoring of some clauses and points.
Sangma expressed confidence that the once the act came into force, the state would be able to address the concerns of illegal immigration and influx much more effectively than any other county who have different models of law to deal with immigration since many of the developed countries like US and UK are still groping for an answer to their concerns of illegal immigration.
“We are confident that as we implement this law, the state would be able to address the concerns related illegal immigration and influx besides ensuring safe and secured environment for citizens,” Sangma told reporters.
Stating that the Act has been designed with huge involvement of stakeholders including representatives of different NGOs, Sangma, however, feared that there might be challenges at the initial stage of implementation of the Act and depending on requirement, Government would fine tune and improve upon the Act.
He also felt that other states of North Eastern region too may examine the Act of the Meghalaya Government if the Act is capable of addressing the concerns of the local people.
On being asked if the local people would be subjected to the purview of the Act, Sangma did not gave a direct reply but added that the principal Act is a culmination of long-drawn exercise involving leaders from different NGOs and added that all the pros and cons had been looked at keeping in mind the likely fallout as Government would move ahead with the implementation of the Act.
“We will enrich ourselves with experience as what more is required to be done and if needed, there will be further amendments,” Sangma said
Replying to queries on the involvement of traditional institutions in the Act, he said that the involvement of the traditional institutions has been well-defined in the principal Act with complete clarity and there is no ambiguity at all.
“Many localities have their system in place and the Act would more or less further strengthen the practice with more fine tuning and mandate of the law,” Chief Minister told reporters.