Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Tuesday weighed in on the contentious issue of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), stating that while the mechanism is vital for regulating illegal immigration, it should not be misunderstood as a barrier to tourism, which is a key driver of the state’s economy.
“On ILP, for me ILP, there are two things you have to understand, so whether we introduce ILP or not, coming of tourist will not be stop because they are just coming as tourist, they are coming and they are here to promote the tourism, they are here to promote the state,” Sangma said.
Clarifying the purpose of the ILP, he added, “So ILP is not all about the tourism, is all about the regulating people coming in, yes the main things of ILP is to stop the illegal in migration for settling, so we have many illegal across the state, you see many illegal immigrants in the state without any record, the government does not have it.”
The minister acknowledged that while the ILP would help curb illegal settlement, the state already possesses multiple protective frameworks. “But for me yes ILP is only for regulating of the incoming illegal incoming to that state, however we have in place mechanism, Sixth Schedule, the land Transfer Act, MRSSA,” he said.
Sangma stressed the importance of community vigilance and existing local governance systems. “We are empowered, we have Dorbar Shnong, we have the Nokma, every locality we are empowered, we are well equip to detect whether there’s any illegal settler or not but only this will work systematic only when everybody take responsibility.”
He continued, “If every Dorbar Shnong, if every Nokma scrutinise and detect illegal immigrants who will come because the land below to us, land belong to the community, so it does mean that we can buy land and settle here, no Meghalaya does not allow, there are many procedure to be follow.”
Sangma outlined the regulatory steps in place: “We have district council, NOC from the Nokma, NOC from District Council, all things will be require, so I think it’s not easy in Meghalaya directly to come into settle like this.”
However, he also flagged another concern. “But however in terms of labour there are many illegal immigrants are coming in with all the proper documents from the government.”
Supporting the idea of ILP in principle, Sangma said, “So, yes well and good if ILP can be introduce so that we can regulate better, however be it ILP or any other system should not stop tourist as tourist is like a bread and butter to the state, we don’t have any industry in the state, therefore tourism is the strength for our economy.”
He concluded with a call for cooperation: “Therefore tourism should grow proper and we should benefits our people who are get livelihood out of this, so let us work together so that our tourism grow better.”
