Imphal: Amid calls from sections of people to remove the Free Movement Regime (FMG) in the face of large-scale illegal immigration from the neighbouring countries, a Manipur-based Naga students body urged the Centre not to scrap the regime.
The FMR allows the people living along the border to travel up to 16 km on either side of the country without a visa. It enhanced the livelihood of the people residing along borders, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) said in a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, through the Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey here on Thursday.
The student body suggested that the menace of illegal immigrants and insurgency can only be curbed by strict implementation of ILP & NRC. The constitution of the Population Commission will rather yield good results than fencing and scrapping of FMR, ANSAM contended.
The regime was first implemented by the first Modi-led BJP government in 2018, the student body said, adding that the recent decision by the Centre to scrap the FMR shocked the people, especially those living along the border.
It may be mentioned that a delegation of ANSAM led by its president M. Luikang Luckson and six others called on the Governor of Manipur, and submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister demanding reversal of the decision to scrap the regime and reinstate the same in Naga areas along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The representatives also expressed their concern about the ongoing unrest in the state as they said, it also affects Naga people. They said the Centre and the State government should solve the issue at the earliest. They requested the Governor to put forward their concerns to the Union Home Minister.
The Governor said the issues of illegal immigrants and insurgency were discussed in the NEC meeting held recently in Shillong and the Centre is taking it seriously. She said she will forward their proposal to the Union Home Minister and will also talk to him in this regard.
Representatives of Trade Union, Employees Organisation calls on Governor
On the other hand, Rajkumar Basumani Singh, President, Joint Administrative Council of All Manipur Trade Union Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Govt. Employees Organisation (AMGEO) led representatives also called on the Governor and demanded timely disbursement of salaries and pensions to the employees and pensioners of the State.
They said, there has been an issue of irregular and untimely payment of salaries/pensions in the state and it has affected the state govt. employees and pensioners. Moreover, pension benefits to the retired employees have not been disbursed in time. DA enjoyed by the state employees is 16% lower than the central govt. employees, they said.
The Governor while listening to their concerns said she had already asked the government to take steps in this regard and further steps will be taken up to ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions. There may be some issues due to the situation in the State, but it has to be improved, she said.
