SHILLONG, SEPT 11: Fourteen of the twenty-two villages Rangbah Shnongs (headmen) under the Umroi area in Ri-Bhoi district have extended their support to the pro ILP activists in their fight for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) into the state. The rangbah shnong, however also want that the government should come up with a ‘Registration Act’ rather than the proposed ‘Tenancy Act’ apart from the ILP to tackle illegal influx into the state.
Umroi Umdohbyrthi headman Pynwanbor Sylliang told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that during a meeting held recently, majority of the village heads of Umroi area have unanimously decided to support the demand put forth by the ten ngos for the introduction of the ILP in the state.
Sylliang informed over 14 village heads out of the 22 villages under Umroi area attended the meeting.
Ten ngos have started their second phase of agitation across the state to pressurize the state government that the state government must implement the ILP.
Stating that there is a need to preserve the identity of our indigenous people, Sylliang said, “We have also decided to introduce registration offices in the different village to verify the credentials of the people coming from outside to work in the area right from labourers to office workers.” He informed that such people will be directed to register themselves with the respective dorbar shnongs.
Sylliang felt this exercise will further help to keep check inflow of outsiders into the state.”
Quoting the chief minister Mukul Sangma who recently said that there are other mechanisms which are more effective than the ILP, Umroi Umdohbyrthi former headmen LR Lyngkhoi said, “We strongly rejected the statement made by the chief minister when the situation in the state is quite serious.”
Lyngkhoi said the everyone doubt that the proposed State Tenancy Act which the state government claims it is better than the ILP will address the issue of influx.” According to him the Tenancy Act will only protect and safeguard the tenants instead of the indigenous people.
Lyngkhoi however suggested that the government needs to revisit the tenancy act and instead replace it with a registration act. He said more than the tenancy rules the state must be equipped with a mechanism that will ensure that all people coming from outside get themselves registered with the government involving the traditional institutions as part of the process.
“Registration is important as this will deter outsiders to over stay and it will also help in reducing crimes,” Lyngkhoi stated.
Meanwhile, the village heads also expressed their resentment on the centralization of powers by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) which in turned has worsen up the situation in the state.
“We demand the KHADC being the custodian of customary laws to safeguard tribal lands to decentralize its powers at the Dorbar shnong level,” Lyngkhoi said. He said the state government and KHADC needs to empower the Rangbah Shnongs in tackling issues such as influx.-By Our Reporter
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