The Manipur state Government, in a feeble bid to pacify the increasingly agitated public and various other social organizations demanding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the state, passed a bill called the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 which, in hindsight, turned out to be just another of the many ploys to buy time while expectantly waiting for the issue to lose steam- one which has been tried and tested with an incredibly high success rate and a favourite of the present CM. the ploy, however, backfired, and as a result, the issue has gathered steam more rapidly than the state government would have ever anticipated, partly because the people of the state felt cheated when six crucial points vital for ensuring the protection of indigenous inhabitants and their customs, traditions and cultural identity were left out of the new bill. Putting aside the legalities and history for a while, it is time for all stakeholders to take an objective look at the growing demand for the implementation of the ILP system in Manipur. The most prominent point being raised by supporters of the system is the increasing threat perception to the overall law and order system of the already volatile society. from the standpoint of the indigenous inhabitants whose greatest concern is the threat of increasing crime and social disturbances which, unfortunately have turned out to be valid to certain extent with the migrants and non-locals in the state increasingly involving in various crimes, the push for a measure to contain and reduce such undesirable developments in the society assumes greater importance with each passing day. The increasing pressure on the people of the state for land and other limited resources, made worse by the unchecked influx of migrants have also contributed to the growing apprehension on the issue. such unregulated influx could also have far serious consequences on the law and order in the state, given the sensitive nature of the place, being geographically located at the border with Myanmar, considered one of the busiest route for international drug trafficking. Taking these points into considerations, there is definitely a need for the State Government to devise a measure to make sure only legitimate and lawful citizens enter the state. While the “Inner Line Permit” which is one of the provisions made by the British under an Act known as “Bengal Frontier Provision Act,1873” might not be feasible to be implemented in its entirety with the changed circumstances and times, the fact remains that the apprehensions and fears of the public is very much real and is, in fact, beginning to act out. The onus of taking stock and taking up measures to allay the public lies with the state and Central Government, lest things will get out of hand, as had happened time and again before.
