(From top) T.W. Chyne, Lambor Malngiang, M. Kharpran and Carmel Sohtun at the council’s winter session on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Oct. 30: Members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today pressed for implementation of Khasi Hills Protected Area Permit as a mechanism to check influx and illegal immigration into Scheduled Areas.

Moving the motion on the second day of the council’s winter session, Sohra member T.W. Chyne exhorted the council’s executive committee to implement the permit system to safeguard indigenous people from being infested with “outsiders”.

He said the system could be made applicable in some of the selected portions of the Scheduled Areas which are under the council’s jurisdiction.

“As members of this district council who stand for safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people, we have a pivotal role to play before we, as an indigenous community, are transformed into minorities because of influx and illegal immigration,” Chyne added.

He suggested that a mechanism should be worked out to ensure that economic activities will not be concentrated in the hands of non-indigenous people.

“If such activities are concentrated only in their (non-indigenous people) hands, they will also have control on governance,” he added.

Citing the example of Iewduh, he said the shops in this main market are under the control of people from outside the state.

The NCP member from Mylliem, Teilinia Thangkhiew, said the agitation on inner-line permit (ILP) is not only a struggle by pressure groups or people’s representatives. The entire community should stand united, she said.

She suggested that the indigenous people should stop leasing out their business to non-indigenous groups.

Replying to the motion, chief executive member of the council P.N. Syiem concurred that influx and illegal immigration would pose a threat to the indigenous community.

He, however, appealed to the members to allow passage of Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2013, as clauses pertaining to checking illegal immigrants have been incorporated in it.

The bill, he said, will make it mandatory to maintain population registers in villages where tenants or labourers will have to register themselves with the village authorities.