The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on Saturday submitted to the chief minister an 11 point charter of demand which includes the revocation of the cabinet resolution of adopting the year 1961 as the cut-off base year for determining the native status of Manipuris and safeguarding the interests of the indigenous population.
The demand stated that the cut-off base year should be 1951 as the former pass and permit system to enter Manipur was abolished on November 18, 1950 by the then chief commissioner of Manipur “who laid the foundation for the present demographic imbalance and marginalisation of indigenous people.”
Concerning the term ‘bulk permit’ in the Labour ILP, it demanded that such a number of labourers do not exceed 50 and the authority who hired the labourers should also take responsibility for any crime committed by the labourers.
It further demanded a clear and distinct definition of the indigenous people in the ILPS, maintaining of a proper and strict database of the ILPS, effective implementation of penalty to the violators of ILPS, establishment of a State Population Commission, exercising of NRC and establishment of a Land Reform Commission.
Speaking to the media in the office of JCILPS at Imphal West, its convenor Phulindro Konsam said that they were unable to submit a memorandum containing the 11-point charters of demands personally to the chief minister; however, it was handed over to the secretary to CM.
He alleged that the present ILP system implemented in the state does not acquire any provision to safeguard, protect, promote and the rights over the ancestral lands and natural resources of the indigenous people of Manipur.
“In the larger interest of all the indigenous people, we appeal to the chief minister to insert their demands in the Manipur Gazette, ILP Guidelines 2019,” said the convenor.
Konsam further appealed to all the legislatures to discuss the demands made by the JCILPS in the ongoing Assembly session to make the ILP full-fledged and fully functional.