Shillong , February 14 (NNN): The People’s Democratic Front (PDF) has released its election manifesto for the upcoming elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) in which the main highlight was the party’s assurance that it will keep a check on the entry of outsiders into the region.
“We assure to find out ways and means to check the entry of outsiders into the region,” the party’s president Ivalumlang Marbaniang said after releasing the manifesto here on Thursday in the presence of party working president and cabinet minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, sitting MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit besides party workers and candidates.
PDF leader and sitting MDC from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah James Ban Basaiawmoit said that the ILP is one of the mechanisms which can prevent permanent settlement by outsiders. “However, we propose to streamline the functioning of Elaka department in order to strengthen the traditional institutions to check entry and settlement by illegal influx in the different villages under the jurisdiction of the district council,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said that the PDF will also ensure that the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation, 1954 is implemented in letter and spirit and that there should be a limit in issuing trading license to non-indigenous traders.
In addition to this, PDF working president and cabinet minister Banteidor Lyngdoh said that the state government is committed to bring more effective laws to tackle the problem of influx and illegal immigration into the state.
“The government is trying to come up with mechanisms which have similar provisions of the ILP,” he said.
With regards to the Village Administration Bill which is still waiting for assent by the Governor, Lyngdoh said the party will discuss on how to ensure the provisions of the Bill do not come into conflict with the Constitution of India.
Basaiawmoit on the other hand said that if the party comes to power, it will set up a committee which will comprise of experts to ensure that the Village Administration Bill, which seeks to empower traditional institutions and their heads, becomes an Act at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the party also assured to bring laws to protect the customary and land rights of the indigenous people, to improve and streamline the functioning of the district councils, to address unemployment problems, preserve the environment and others.
It may be noted here that the PDF is contesting 24 seats in the two ADCs.
