Imphal, Dec 10: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday underscored the importance of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, calling it vital for safeguarding the civilisation, culture, and traditions of the state’s indigenous people.

The ILP, which dates back to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, was extended to Manipur on December 9, 2019. Singh highlighted that Manipur became the first state in India to implement ILP after independence. Prior to this, the system was in place in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, where nearly 90% of the population belongs to tribal communities.

“In Manipur, where around 40% of the population belongs to tribal communities, the ILP system was introduced after a thorough assessment of the state’s unique civilisation, culture, and traditions,” Singh said, crediting the move to the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Chief Minister also noted that several northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim, have been demanding the implementation of ILP within their territories.

Singh expressed his gratitude to the Central government, particularly Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, for facilitating the extension of the ILP to Manipur. He also acknowledged the role of civil society organisations, student bodies, and people from both the hill and valley regions, who had long fought for its implementation.

He linked the introduction of ILP to the broader historical context of Manipur’s journey toward statehood, which was achieved in 1972 after sustained public demand. Describing the ILP as a “historic gift” from the Centre, Singh said it was a crucial step to protect and preserve Manipur’s indigenous population and their way of life.

Also Read: SBI ATM guard dies after shooting self in Dibrugarh

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub