Deputy Chief Minister Incharge of Home Prestone Tynsong said the amendment to the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) is still pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Talking to reporters, Tynsong said there is a mechanism that is followed in Meghalaya to detect illegal influx.
“…we wanted to strengthen further the amendment of MRSSA, we have already passed it in the Assembly and right now the Ministry of Home Affairs is still examining the amendment bill that we passed,” Tynsong said.
The role of traditional institutions including headmen is very vital here, he said headmen are supposed to get all the details of each and every tenant.
He said this is better method than any of the North-eastern states as the state government is trying to strengthen MRSSA.
“For the state Government mechanism to detect illegal influx is there since 1972, we already have the system in place where any person who does not happen to be the permanent residents of Meghalaya whether tribal or non tribal , weather foreigner we already have in every locality, we do have, the headman are there,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He further added, “The headmen are supposed to get all the details of each and every tenant and that also it is there. Some non-residents of Meghalaya they try to buy a plot of land that also is not possible.”
Maintaining that the state already has multi-previous policies and systems in place, he said, “This is better method than any of the North-eastern states that we have , these are the methods where we are applying and it’s so successful.”