Party meet in Manipur on Inner Line Permit system

Manipur state government will hold an all-party meeting on 6^th August 2014, to discuss the issue on ongoing agitation by social organisations demanding immediate implementation of Inner Line Permit system in the state.

The decision to hold the meeting was taken by the ruling Congress government as the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) led agitation has intensified in the past few weeks.

Manipur government has invited all the political parties including CPI, Manipur People's Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Manipur State Congress Party, BJP, Janata Dal (United) and others.

A JCILPS has mentioned that they are not against the entry of compatriots in the state but there should be some restrictions to protect the indigenous people in the Manipur State state.

As per Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS)

• The number of persons who have entered the state in the past few decades has outnumbered the total tribal population of the state.
• It is time for the government to take some concrete steps to protect the indigenous people of the state.
• Barring Congress, all the political parties in their election manifesto in the assembly election had promised to implement the ILP if they came to power.

Congress is not against the implementation of inner line permit system.

Protest in Manipur for implementation of Inner Line Permit system

• Official reports from various districts in Manipur has mentioned that several social organisations, including women's organisations, have been launching sit-in protests, demonstrations and other forms of agitations in the past two months demanding immediate implementation of the system.
• More than 100 activists have been sent to judicial custody for violating prohibitory orders during the agitation in the past ten days.
• Even Student groups are taking part in this protest.

What is Inner Line Permit (ILP) system?

Inner Line Permit is an official travel document issued by the government of India to allow internal travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area for a limited period within the country.

It is compulsory for Indian citizens from outside those States to obtain permit for entering into the protected State.

It is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India.

History of ILP

ILP is an off-shoot of Bengal eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.

It was enacted to protect British Crowns commercial interest in the Tea, Oil and elephant trade into these "Protected Areas" by prohibiting “British subjects” from entering these areas (not to establish any commercial venture and become a adversary in trade to Crowns Agents ).

Later on the word "British subjects" was replaced by Citizen of India in 1950.

India Government enacted ILP for protection of Tribal Culture in North Eastern States.

Following three North eastern states are having ILP

Arunachal Pradesh-issued by the secretary (political) of the government of Arunachal 

Pradesh.

It is required for entering the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh through any of the check gates across the inter-State border with Assam or Nagaland.

Mizoram-issued by the government of Mizoram. It is required for entering the Indian State of Mizoram through any of the check gates across the inter-State borders. However, if arriving by air, the permit can be obtained on arrival at Lengpui Airport, Aizawl. 

Nagaland - it is mandatory for a mainland Indian citizen entering the State of Nagaland through any of the check gates across the inter-State borders. Indian citizens entering Manipur by road via Dimapur/Kohima will need to procure the ILP for Nagaland.

The Central Government has turned down the Manipur government's demand for the introduction of the provision of Inner Line Permit system to restrict entry of outsiders in the state under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.

There are also ongoing demands for the introduction of ILP in Meghalaya to regulate entry of outsiders into the state.

All the foreigners are required have the Protection Area Permit (PAP) for entering into the state. They can obtain the Protected Area Permit from, All Indian Missions abroad, and Home ministry.