IMPHAL, August 30: The Committee on ILP formed by the delegates of all the political parties in Manipur have decided to start interacting with interested experts or organisations on ILP from September 4.
The decision was taken by the members of the committee in its second meeting held today in the office of the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam at Old Secretariat at around 3 pm.
The meeting was chaired by the deputy CM, the designated chairman of the committee, and participated by 15 members from the various political parties in the State. Today, academicians from Manipur University also submitted their opinions on ILP to the Committee.
Three resolutions were taken during the meeting: first, the committee decided to give the All Manipur Bar Association, High Court Bar Association of Manipur and a few other experts a week as requested by them to come up with suggestions; second, the committee took the resolution that the convenor of the committee is to meet the State’s Chief Minister for urging him to invite the JAC on ILP for dialogues at the earliest; and lastly, the committee decided to start interacting with the interested experts or organisation s on ILP with effect from September 4 onward.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur College Teachers’ Association (AMCTA) organised a one day academic discussion on the Inner Line Permit at Manipur College in Singjamei, Imphal today.
The principal of the college, Dr Kh Jayentakumar Singh and AMCTA president M Lokendro Singh graced the academic session as the chief guest and president respectively.
Professor Ksh Bimola of the Department of Political Science, MU moderated the academic session which had Assistant Professor RK Itacha Singh of the Department of Political Science, Imphal College; Associate Professor S Benjamin Nattar of the Department of Political Science, Manipur College and retired director of AVRC, MU, Professor Arambam Lokendra.
Dr. Kh Jayentakumar Singh highlighted the economic points of views on Inner Line Permit in the inaugural session while M Lokendro Singh expressed the need of academic contributions in relation with the issue of ILP implementation in the State. Recalling the academic contribution from AMCTA with the publication of Manipur Fact File in 2001, he also expressed the necessity of framing a policy of ILP concerning the State only.
During the academic session, moderator Prof Bimola expressed the need to examine the pros and cons of implementing ILP in the State.
On the other hand, Prof. Arambam Lokendra dwelt at length on the origin of ILP from the pre-colonial days up to the prevailing situation of ILP in the country with special reference to Manipur.
RK Itocha Singh talked about mechanism of ILP implementation in Manipur on a trial basis in provisional manner while Prof S Benjamin Nattar highlighted the constitutional implications of implementing ILP and mentioned the possibility of amending the constitution for protection of rights of the indigenous people. He further suggested forming a North East ILP policy in the larger interest of the region.
