Take balanced approach on draft Tenancy Bill: Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today cautioned people of the state on the need to have a balanced approach while giving their opinions and suggestions on the draft Tenancy Bill which is aimed at arresting influx stating that the state still suffers from 'backwardness'.

"All citizens concerned of the state should come forward and contribute their views and suggestions in tackling the issue of influx and illegal immigration," he said during the launch of public consultation on the draft Meghalaya Regulation of Landlords and Verification of Tenants Bill here.

The chief minister said the Tenancy Bill should be able to "strike a balance between the needed growth of the state and the security of the upcoming generations".

Stating that the state still suffers from 'backwardness', the Chief Minister reminded Raghuram Rajan Committee report tagging Meghalaya as one of the least developed states in the country.

The public consultations on the Tenancy Bill will be extended to all the eleven districts of the state giving equal platforms for all stakeholders including traditional institutions, civil societies, youth and students and others to give their views and suggestions on the Bill.

On the pro-Inner Line Permit groups who were demanding the implementation of the ILP to curb influx, Mukul said the government has been very clear and transparent on its stand.

In the first day of the consultation, however, the consultation suffered as the major stakeholders in the Bill, the traditional village council chiefs from the city and its suburbs did not turn up in protest.

"We did not participate at the public consultation as government has failed to clarify on the motive of initiating consultation on the Bill," SRS general secretary R L Blah said.

Former chief minister D D Lapang who is the chief adviser to the government warned that a small state like Meghalaya would be at the receiving ends if influx is not tackled.

He further urged all concerned to put aside all the barriers of political identity or communal misunderstanding for the benefit of the upcoming generations.

Other members who participated expressed the need to take the pro-ILP groups to the negotiating table to end the impasse over the issue.

"Both the state government and the NGOs should set aside their pre-conditions and come forward for dialogue on the issue," Informed Conscious And Responsible Existence (ICARE) president Toki Blah said.

The Synjuk Ki Seng Samla Shnong (SSSS) general secretary Vanshan S Buhphang said, "We urged the state government to open space for dialogue with the NGOs who are presently demanding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP)".