Open Letter To His Excellency, Governor of Manipur regarding Inner Line Permit System In Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

ILP Protest demonstrations staged at Imphal on March 01 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khagembam

Your Excellency, the Governor of Manipur

With due respect and humble submission, may I take the liberty of drawing your kind attention to the ongoing peoples' mass movement in Manipur regarding enactment of an appropriate law to protect the indigenous people /natives of Manipur.

Your Excellency is aware that on 16 March, 2015, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the "Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill 2015" even as all opposition MLAs except Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, Hon'ble MLA walked out of the House. Initiating the debate, our Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur , Shree O Ibobi Singh recalled the various attempts of the State Government to get the Bengal Eastern Regulation -1973 extended to Manipur by the Government of India. But the Government of India was not keen to accept the proposal.

Dr Ibohalbi Singh, Hon'ble MLA contended that most of the recommendations made by the All Political Parties Committee on Inner Line Permit System have been left out of the Bill. Th. Shyamkumar, Hon'ble MLA suggested the House to refer the Bill to the Select Committee instead of passing it in haste. Y. Erabot Singh, Hon'ble MLA pointed out that the Bill has no provision to identify migrants or prevent them from becoming land owners in the State. As the ruling MLAs insisted on passing the Bill on 16 March, 2015 in its present form, Shyamkumar raised his voice. As the Bill was about to be passed, Dr Ibohalbi, K Sarat, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykisan and Samuel Risom walked out of the House.

Immediately, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the mass movement in Manipur announced 18 hours bandh, burnt the copies of the new Bill, burnt the effigies of Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister and demanded immediate withdraw the Bill as it is against the wishes of the people. The young people and women are sitting in Dharna at various places, protested everywhere. The State Government also initiated a series of repressive measures . The situation is very volatile. Any time, violence may erupt anywhere. This present Bill is meant to protect the migrant workers , to protect their vote banks and not to protect the indigenous people (natives) of Manipur.

Historical perspectives

Manipur was having an Inner Line Permit System known as "Permit System" issued by the Manipur Durbar for the migrant workers entering the geographical boundaries of Manipur. This permit system was implemented in Manipur during Maharaja's time from 1901 to 1950 to control entry of Non-Manipuris from outside the state. This Permit system was brought under the Foreigners Department on 1 November, 1931. Such a permit system ensures identification, detection, registration and control of illegal immigration in Manipur.

In 1948, the Government of India had officially approved retention of the permit system in Manipur vide Mr. G.E.D Walker, Advisor to the Governor of Assam letter no. 120/47/C- 26-27 dated 17th January, 1948.

This Permit system was abolished by Mr. Himmat Singh, the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur on 18 November, 1950 without the approval of the Government of India allowing free entry, unchecked and uncontrolled influx of outsiders from other states leading to unprecedented increase of migrant population in Manipur.

Adverse effects of massive influx of outside migrants

The unchecked and uncontrolled massive influx of outside migrants is already starting to produce a demographic imbalance in Manipur. Most of the migrant workers never adopt family planning producing 5-6 children where as the indigenous people produce -1- 2 children. According to 2001 Census, the population of outside migrants in Manipur was 707,488 as against the Meitei population of 751822, tribal population of 670,782.

Now with the implementation of LOOK EAST POLICY and ARRIVAL RAILWAYS in Manipur, the indigenous people /Natives of Manipur may be reduced to minority in Manipur as happened in case of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tripura.

The massive influx of outside migrants has deprived the indigenous Manipuri population of their ancestral land, food, employment , manual work , education , language , scripts, business, mineral resources , and local dialects etc due to ever increasing influence of Hindi as the link language and "Bazar Bhasa " in trade and commerce.

The massive influx of outside migrants has posed a threat to the Manipuri identity and culture of the indigenous Manipuris.

The massive influx of outside migrants has posed a threat to survival of local labourers due to uncontrolled and unchecked influx of cheap labourers from other states and from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar .

The massive influx of outside migrants has posed a threat to reservation quota for scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as many of them are also eligible under the same reservation quota.

The massive influx of outside migrants has deprived the job opportunities of indigenous population

The massive influx of outside migrants has deprived of higher educational and Technical educational opportunities like MBBS, BDS, BSc ( Nursing) , BE etc, of indigenous population as may of the outsiders are also eligible to apply for the same .

The massive influx of outside migrants has deprived of competitive posts like MCS, MPS and other high ranking posts of indigenous population as the outsiders are also eligible to apply .We have seen that some of the outsiders holding very high posts in the Government and this is happening at the cost of our local talents.

The massive influx of outside migrants has posed a threat to Law and Order , Public Security and Safety as many of them indulged in black market , crimes

The massive influx of outside migrants has posed a threat to survival of small ethnic tribal groups like
Aimol ( 2643/2001),
Chothe ( 2675/2001),
Koirao ( 1200/2001) ,
Koireng ( 1056/2001),
Monsang ( 1634/2001) ,
Moyon ( 1,710/2001),
Ralte ( 110/2001),
Salhte ( 311/2001)

The massive influx of outside migrants has increased the spread of HIV /AIDS as many of the migrant workers are also indulging in high risk behaviour in sex and drug use . Many of migrant workers are very keen to contest election and become MLA and Minister. Earlier , we had one Nepali MLA also. Previous attempts of the State Government to protect indigenous people . On 2nd March, 2006, I . Hemochandra , Hon'ble MLA had initiated a discussion on Inner Line Permit in the Manipur State Assembly.

To be continued ...