Shillong, Jan 25 — ILP in Meghalaya was once again thrust into political focus on Saturday when the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) publicly urged the state legislature to adopt a new directive calling on the Government of India to act on the Inner Line Permit proposal.
In a statement issued in Shillong, KSU leaders said that although the Meghalaya Assembly had earlier passed a resolution seeking ILP status for the state, there has been no substantial response from central authorities on implementing the permit regime. The union urged lawmakers to pass a fresh resolution to reinforce the state’s demand and to keep pressure on officials in New Delhi.
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The ILP system is a protective framework under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 that requires non-residents to obtain official permission before entering or staying in designated regions. Several northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur, currently operate the system to regulate movement and protect local communities’ cultural and economic interests.
Representatives from the KSU told reporters that members of the union are concerned that without a clear and renewed legislative directive, the issue could lose urgency both within the state and at the Union level. They said that the updated resolution should clearly outline the state’s expectations and pursue engagement with the Home Ministry.
Advocates of ILP in Meghalaya argue that a formal permit regime would help regulate the entry of outsiders, protect indigenous land rights, and maintain demographic balance amid ongoing concerns about migration patterns from neighbouring regions.
State officials have previously acknowledged the significance of the ILP discussion and noted ongoing dialogue with central authorities, but no definitive timeline for implementation has been announced. KSU leaders stressed that only a clear and renewed legislative push will ensure that the demand for ILP in Meghalaya remains a priority in future negotiations with the Government of India.
