Sixth Schedule is better than Inner Line Permit (ILP): MP Vincent Pala

A Reporter

SHILLONG: Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from Shillong, Vincent Pala on Monday said that as per his understanding, the Centre if it implements Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya, it might do away with the Sixth Schedule.

“However, in the interest of the future of the State and its indigenous people, Sixth Schedule is better than ILP as per my understanding,” Pala said.

The Lok Sabha MP said that ILP restricts people from other parts of the country to stay in the State but when it comes to protect the land rights, culture and traditions of the State, the only shield is the Sixth Schedule.

“In the Sixth Schedule, we have the provisions of the district councils which have been entrusted with the power to protect the land of the people of the State. The district councils can enact laws so that it can control everything,” the MP said.

He, however said that the Centre should extend the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the entire State.

According to Pala, if the Centre approves ILP for the State and as well as allows the provisions of the Sixth Schedule in Meghalaya, it is well and good; but if it cannot, then the latter is the best mechanism to protect the indigenous people of Meghalaya.

The MP said that the Sixth Schedule was an Act made by the Parliament and therefore it was not easy to do away with it, but pointed out that ILP can be withdrawn anytime only through a presidential notification.

When pointed out that some people argue that Mizoram has both ILP and Sixth Schedule, Pala said that in that State, the scheduled areas are limited to certain areas and that the whole State is not covered by Sixth Schedule.

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