United Democratic Party (UDP) general secretary Jemino Mawthoh has suggested that the state government should involve traditional institutions to counter the problem of the illegal migration in Meghalaya.
He said as long as the state is waiting for the central government to consider the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) amendment and Inner Line Permit (ILP), Meghalaya should find a local solution for such a problem.
Speaking on the growing instances of pressure groups taking things into their own hands, Mawthoh said that the government had made efforts in the form of facilitating MRSSA, passed the ILP resolution in the Assembly and met the Union Home Minister on the issue.
“Efforts have been made but the response has not been very forthcoming and if you are left in the dark the ongoing pressure will be there from the different groups,” he said also reminding that traditional institutions are already in place and have always extended their support played an important role during any crisis like Covid, etc.
“Why can’t we start the process of involving the traditional institutions which are major stakeholders and come up with some kind of mechanism to monitor the coming and going of people from the state? The Dorbar Shnongs have been doing a wonderful job so let us do it properly so that it will not be harassment a discrimination and let there be local solutions for local problems,” he added.
