Imphal: The Meitei Tribe Union (MMTU) is calling out the state government over the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. They claim the program, which started in 2019, is failing to stop non-locals from settling in Manipur. The union demands answers now.
The MMTU pointed to Chandel district as a primary flashpoint. They allege that local authorities issued Scheduled Tribe certificates and Job Cards to 76 non-local individuals. These offices, specifically SDO and SDC branches, are also accused of handing out birth and residential certificates to ineligible people. The union says these documents act as springboards for outsiders to secure Aadhaar cards and spots on electoral rolls.
Official numbers raise alarms. Since 2019, the state has issued roughly 10 lakh ILP passes. The union wants to know who left and who stayed. They are pressing officials to confirm if permits are actually being renewed as required. The MMTU statement says, "The organisation alleged that some SDO and SDC offices have facilitated the issuance of Birth Certificates and Residential Certificates to non-locals, which it claimed were subsequently used to obtain Aadhaar cards and enrolment in electoral rolls."
Outsiders are clustering near sub-divisional centers and commercial hubs. The union is also worried about foreign nationals moving in from Myanmar and Bangladesh. They accuse corrupt political leaders and government staff of fast-tracking these settlers into the local population. These illegal moves threaten the state’s demographic balance.
The union is currently questioning the government’s stance on the Meitei demand for ST status. They maintain that foreign nationals have no place on the official ST list. Investigators must now audit all job cards, certificates, and voter lists to flush out the irregular documentation. The MMTU wants those officials responsible for these illegal practices punished immediately.
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