Shillong, Nov 25: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) on Monday urged the Governor Tathagata Roy to consider giving his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.

The Ordinance which seeks to make it mandatory for outsiders to register when they enter the state was approved by the state Cabinet on November 1, and is now pending the Governor’s approval.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Monday, chairman of CoMSO, Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “We are of the opinion that the said Ordinance will go a long way towards achieving the aim and objective of the Act for the safety and security of the residents of the State and also for the protection of the demographic structure of the State as a whole, which has been a long and genuine aspirations of the residents of the State.”

He said the exercise of the state government in bringing out an Ordinance was done with prior consultation with legal experts and the Law department and the various stakeholders which include political parties, NGOs, traditional institutions and others.

“We are also of the opinion that the proposed provision which make it mandatory for non-residents, who intends to stay beyond 24 hours in the State to furnish information will not affect the free movement of tourists or visitors as can be seen from the statements of the Chief Minister’s Office as well as the statement of the Tourism Department,” Kharjahrin said.