Shillong, August 18: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has submitted a formal reminder to the Meghalaya Government, urging immediate and time-bound action on the amendment of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, as applicable to Meghalaya, and the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state.
In a representation addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, CoMSO said the two demands concern the protection of the indigenous population, identity, land, political rights, demographic character and future of Meghalaya.
On the Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950, CoMSO said the existing order dates back to a period when Meghalaya was not yet a separate state. It acknowledged the State Government’s constitution of a Working Group/Committee to examine the matter, but said the people of Meghalaya cannot be expected to wait indefinitely for committees, meetings and assurances.
The organisation urged the government to expedite and conclude the examination of the ST Order, finalise the state’s recommendations for appropriate amendment or modification, place the proposal before the competent authorities of the Government of India without further delay, seek a clear and time-bound response from the Centre, and keep the public informed about the progress.
On ILP, CoMSO reiterated its demand for its immediate grant and implementation in Meghalaya. It said the system was necessary to regulate and monitor the entry and stay of people from outside the state, particularly in view of Meghalaya’s geographical location, international borders and concerns over demographic vulnerability and illegal immigration.
CoMSO maintained that ILP should not be viewed as a mechanism against legitimate tourism, business, employment or education. It called for appropriate exemptions and simplified procedures for bona fide visitors while retaining an effective regulatory mechanism.
The organisation also pointed out that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution in December 2019 seeking implementation of ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. It urged the State Government to renew its demand before the Union Government and seek a formal, written and time-bound response.
CoMSO further called for the preparation of a comprehensive Meghalaya-specific administrative and technological framework for implementing ILP, including suitable exemptions for tourists, students, business persons and other legitimate visitors.
The organisation has asked the government to furnish, within 15 days of receiving the representation, the present status of the proposed amendment to the ST Order, action taken by the State Government with the Government of India, the current status of the state’s ILP demand, and a concrete roadmap and timeline for securing a final decision on both issues.
CoMSO said the two demands were being raised in the larger public interest and for the protection of the constitutional, demographic, cultural, economic and political interests of Meghalaya’s indigenous people.
It warned that in the event of continued inaction, it would be constrained to pursue democratic, constitutional and lawful measures to advance the demands, describing the representation as a “formal and final reminder” for immediate and time-bound action.
