The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today distributed pamphlets across the city urging people to oppose the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion & Facilitation Act, 2024 (MSIPF), and its amended land bank provisions.
In the pamphlet, the KSU mentioned how “draconian and tyrannical” the Act is, and that will not benefit the indigenous people but an oppressive act which is to meet the needs of only a certain influential section of the society.
The union pointed to the lacunae in the Act which was passed without any debate or discussion and said it goes against the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), a principle that requires consultation with indigenous people before any activities, a right recognised by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
With the existence of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, a law that regulates land acquisition in India, besides laws of the autonomous district councils, the KSU questioned on what basis the government formulated the law to acquire land.
Yesterday, the union had written to the chief minister objecting to the Act stating it would not benefit the indigenous tribal but would aggravate influx, promote ghost companies and money laundering and boost corruption.
