Manipur marks 5 years of Inner Line Permit system with tribute and progress report

The Manipur government celebrated the 5th anniversary of the reimplementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) System at a commemorative event held at the City Convention Centre. The occasion began with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, accompanied by ministers, MLAs, government officials, civil society leaders, and family members, paying floral tributes to Sapam Robinhood. Robinhood lost his life during protests demanding the ILP in 2015, a sacrifice acknowledged as instrumental in reviving the historic permit system.

The ILP system, reintroduced after decades of demand and agitation, is seen as a landmark achievement for Manipur, safeguarding the identity and culture of its indigenous people. As part of the ceremony, the state government felicitated Robinhood’s family and civil society leaders who played a crucial role in realizing the goal of reinstating ILP.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed gratitude to central leaders for recognizing Manipur’s unique demographic and cultural characteristics and allowing the implementation of ILP. "The reimplementation of ILP is one of the greatest milestones for Manipur since attaining statehood in 1972," Singh stated.

He highlighted that ILP is generally applicable in states where 95% of the population is tribal, which is not the case in Manipur, where 52% of the population falls under the general category. Nevertheless, he praised the central government for considering the state's exceptional circumstances and granting this special provision.

Turning to the ongoing unrest in the state, the Chief Minister emphasized efforts to restore peace through dialogues with civil society leaders from communities such as Thadou and Hmar. However, he lamented that vested interests had sabotaged peace initiatives by instigating fresh violence. "Those who perpetuate violence for personal gain will face divine justice," he remarked.

Joint Secretary (Home) M. Veto highlighted significant milestones achieved under the ILP system over the past five years. A total of 9,73,277 permits were issued, including 8.03 lakh temporary ILPs, 65,000 regular ILPs, 1.04 lakh labor ILPs, and 137 special ILPs, generating Rs. 13.03 crore in revenue.

Addressing concerns about illegal immigration, Veto revealed that political instability in Myanmar has posed challenges for the state. Between 2018 and 2023, authorities detected 11,847 illegal migrants, of which 3,779 were sent back to Myanmar, 7,723 were placed in temporary shelters, and 345 were detained. Among those detained, 76 were deported, and 28 are scheduled for deportation by January 2025.

The origins of the ILP in Manipur trace back to 1901, when the British introduced a permit system to regulate the entry of non-Manipuris. This system was abolished in 1950 by Chief Commissioner Himmat Singh, leading to significant demographic and socio-economic changes that many consider detrimental to indigenous communities.

The program also included an interactive session with beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's Economic Support Scheme (CMESS) under Manipur Startup Scheme 2.0, aimed at providing employment opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The event concluded with calls for stricter enforcement of ILP rules to curb illegal immigration and ensure the protection of future generations.
 

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