NGOs unhappy with influx control mechanism

From Staff Correspondent

Shillong, March 31: Three frontal social organizations – the Khasi Students Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and the Hynniewtrep tiol Youth Front (HNYF) want further improvement in the government’s proposed comprehensive mechanism to check influx into the State.

To convince the pressure groups which are demanding introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State, the Mukul Sangma led government had constituted a high level committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of law and elections Rowell Lyngdoh to come up with a comprehensive mechanism to check influx. The committee came up with a couple of proposed legislations that could improve the existing laws. This include the proposal to come up with a residential bill to replace the existing Tency Act and improvement of the Bemi Transaction Act, 1980.

However, the three frontline NGOS outrightly rejected the format of the proposals on grounds that it will not live up to the objectives to address the ubated influx of outsiders into the State.

“The Residential Bill is not in accordance with the interest of the tents belonging to local indigenous tribes since they are not exempted from the long official procedures. Besides it will also affect the rural population which have to go through the painstaking road to the government offices,” stated the president of the KSU Daniel Khyriem in Shillong on Tuesday, while adding that the objective of the three social organization is to protect and not to create any distress to the local indigenous people.

On the government proposal to improve the Tency Act 1980, the general secretary of the HNYF, Sadon K Blah said, “the proposed amendment is silent on the word ‘detection’ of those involved in Bemi transaction”.

“It only spoke about the quantum of punishment which is enhanced from 6 months to 1 year with a fine,” Blah said while making it clear that they are in a disagreement with the government plans to check influx.

Stating that they have made their opinion clear to the government during the April 26 meeting at the State Secretariat, Blah further said that they will take a fresh call if the government refuses to incorporate the organizations’ view on the proposed mechanism to check influx.

However, the KSU, FKJGP and HYNF seem content with the government initiative to set up facilitation centres at the entry and exit points into the State. According to leaders, the Government informed them that these points have been identified and the process of land acquisition is on.

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