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SHILLONG, JULY 26: In the wake of increasing apprehensions about a potential influx of illegal settlers who were driven out of Assam, Meghalaya’s Voice of the People Party (VPP) Member of Parliament Ricky Syngkon has called for the imposition of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. The call is an old dream of the people of Meghalaya to save their culture and land rights.
During a recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Syngkon was gravely concerned with demographic pressures building up in Meghalaya, especially in its sensitive border sectors. These include sections of the international border with Bangladesh and the interstate boundary with Assam. He mentioned growing cases of unauthorized settlements and encroachments on land, warning that the unbridled migration threatens the cultural mores, economic well-being, and customary landholding pattern of the tribal populace directly.
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Syngkon pointed out that those states like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland already possess the ILP regime to manage the entry of non-locals and protect the rights of the locals. He contended that Meghalaya must also receive the same protection, particularly in the wake of ongoing eviction drives in Assam, which he believes will trigger a spillover of illegal settlers into Meghalaya’s weak areas.
“ILP implementation would not just fulfill the people’s long-standing aspiration but also establish their trust in the constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule,” Syngkon said. He remembered that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had passed unanimously a resolution in December 2019 requesting ILP for the state. But even after continued follow-ups, the issue is still pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Syngkon raised some other key issues at the meeting as well. He demanded that the Khasi language be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, citing its far-reaching cultural and historical importance. This was affirmed by resolution by the Meghalaya Assembly in 2018 but till date, no action has been taken on the matter.
Besides this, Syngkon called upon the Centre to provide special employment opportunities for local tribal youth in central government establishments in Meghalaya, particularly in Group ‘C’ and support staff ranks. He contended that this would be consistent with the spirit of the provisions of the Fifth and Sixth Schedules intended to empower tribal communities.
He also pushed for the revival of non-functional regional air services like Shillong-Dimapur, Shillong-Agartala, and Shillong-Silchar. These connections, he stated, would increase regional mobility and encourage greater integration of Meghalaya with the rest of the Northeast and the nation.
Finally, Syngkon urged the Ministry of Tourism to develop the Shillong Centre of the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management into a full-fledged institute. He saw the centre becoming a potential hub for tourism education, skill building, and entrepreneurship in the whole region.
Until now, the central government has yet to come up with a final decision on the MP’s suggestions.
