SHILLONG: The District Task Force (DRF) is holding meetings with the traditional heads to ensure smooth implementation of Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 (MRSSA).
As the ordinance related to the amended Residents Act is pending with the Governor, the state government has decided to activate the provisions of the 2016 Act.
An official source said on Tuesday that the District Task Force with the deputy commissioner as the chairperson, in its meeting with the traditional heads, has discussed about issues concerning tenants also.
The Task Force was formed as mandated under the MRSSA.
According to the MRSSA, people from outside the state are to provide important information about the day of entry and exit and the number of days they intend to stay in the state. Besides, they are also to provide information about the next place/district they go to. The information has to be furnished to the local authority which is defined as traditional heads.
However, the modalities are yet to be worked out as the headmen will have to employ data entry operators.
The travelers will be handed receipts so that when they leave the state, they can show them at the exit points.
As per the MRSSA, facilitation centres will also come up to facilitate the entry of visitors to the state at the entry points.
As far as tenants are concerned, the landlords will have to furnish the information about them to the police stations.
The source said that sensitisation programmes with the stakeholders have been held in Shillong centric areas and adjoining localities. Altogether 97 localities have come forward to take part in the programmes.
The official said the headmen had raised queries in respect of the Act and the rules and also sought for more clarification from the government. The members of the various Dorbar Shnong have also requested the government to provide them hardware and software materials required for the implementation of the MRSSA such as data entry operators and others. In this case, the official said that the Dorbar Shnong may not be assisted in monetary terms but in kind.
“The District Task Force has agreed regarding the need to provide support to traditional heads and it will take up the matter with the government and discuss the issue with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma”, the official said.
