Shillong, Apr 17: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government will examine the demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma told a delegation of the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council that various demands placed by the Council before the government would be examined.

The HYC submitted a charter of demands to the Chief Minister demanding implementation of strong and effective laws including ILP for all round protection and promotion of rights of the indigenous people in the state.

ILP is implemented in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland under the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation Act, 1873.

According to HYC president, Peter S. Lawai, the chief minister has assured that the government would examine the demands along with other laws and discuss the same with other cabinet ministers in the government.

Lawai said that a meeting discuss the issue with the council would be called again by the Chief Minister.

Other anti-influx laws proposed by the Council for implementation includes residential permit for immigrants/visitors, trading and business permit for non-indigenous people, and work permit system for non-indigenous labourers, prohibition and detection of benami transaction, national registration of citizenship (NRC).

To tackle corruption in the state, the council also demanded implementation of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act and Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Service Social Audit Act, 2017, Right to Services Act, besides ensuring accountability and transparency in jobs recruitment, implement laws related to land rights of indigenous people, strengthen the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971 and restrict the implementation of Central laws relating to land in Meghalaya, fight for full-fledged federal state status and strengthen existing autonomous district councils in the state.

HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin said that the Council was very happy as the demand for implementation of ILP in the state has been again echoed by other NGOs.

“Even the Congress that rejected our demand when it was ruling the state has started accepting ILP now,” Kharjahrin said.

The HYC leader also said that the Council maintained strong opposition against any move to issue work permit to Bangladeshi nationals and any attempt either by the Centre or state government to encourage or facilitate influx of outsiders into the state would not be accepted as well as trying to encourage Bangladeshi nationals to come and work in the state.

He however said that the Council would welcome if work permit is proposed by the state government to regulate entry of outsiders into the state for employment and other livelihood activities.

The HYC also urged the government to resolve the boundary dispute with Assam, facilitate free, easy and compulsory land registration, deploy security and extend special development package in border areas.