Agartala, Feb 19 (IANS): The central government rejected the introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Tripura arguing that the current act is sufficient to protect tribals and their lands, a minister said in the state assembly Thursday.
"The union home ministry in their several replies to Tripura government's proposals said that there is no need to introduce ILP in Tripura as the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 has sufficient scope to protect tribals and their lands," Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma told the assembly.
"If the ILP is introduced in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), people residing outside the autonomous council areas would face trouble entering the areas and the economic development would be affected," he said quoting the union home ministry's replies.
People from other states or areas, especially those who are non-tribals, have to obtain an ILP before entering the ILP enforced areas.
Debbarma, a veteran tribal leader, said: "Once the situation had forced (us) to demand introduction of ILP in TTAADC areas. Now the infiltration (from Bangladesh) has been restricted and the situation is not in favour to introduce the ILP in Tripura."
"The TTAADC has also given enough authority to protect the land rights of the tribals," he added.
The issue rocked the state assembly Thursday and a heated debate was witnessed between the treasury and opposition benches.
The ILP system, which is still in force in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, derives from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations 1873 and entails the issuance of official travel documents by the central government or the state government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected or restricted area for a limited period.
The ILP, a British era regulation designed to preserve the ethnicity and culture of the northeastern tribals, required all Indian citizens not usually residents of the area to secure a special permit for entering the border states and regions of the northeast.
Several parties and NGOs have often organised rallies to have the ILP promulgated in Manipur and Meghalaya also.
Reintroduction of the ILP in Manipur is a serious issue in the state from where it was lifted Nov 18, 1950.