Meghalaya: Residents Safety Bill Faces Ministry of Home Affairs' Rejection

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020, has encountered a roadblock as it faces rejection by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In response, the Meghalaya State government is set to convene next week to address the Ministry's concerns.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong made the announcement, stating that the Ministry of Home Affairs has returned the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill due to non-approval. He emphasized that Chief Minister has scheduled a meeting with legal experts and senior officers for the upcoming week to deliberate on the next steps.

The bill had been in the spotlight recently when, on October 30, the State government instructed landlords and tenants from seven localities in Shillong to register on an app as mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) 2016. This measure was taken to combat illegal infiltration into the state.

Tynsong clarified that the implementation of the Act did not begin recently. District task forces, led by respective deputy commissioners with SPs as committee members, were already established. These task force committees are operational, and deputy commissioners were instructed to enforce MRSSA diligently within their respective jurisdictions to ensure full compliance.

It is reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs' concerns primarily relate to constitutional provisions within the bill. The forthcoming meeting with legal experts and senior officers will aim to address these concerns and chart the way forward for the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Meanwhile, laying emphasis on the use of biological fertilizers and pest control acquired from animal or plant waste, Meghalaya Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said on Wednesday that farmers are now understanding the value of organic farming. "As of today, 24 thousand hectares of land are organically certified, as even farmers are now understanding the value of organic farming," said Lyngdoh while attending a stakeholder consultation workshop on 'Unlocking Opportunities in Meghalaya.' The workshop was held in Shillong and was organised with the aim of bringing together a group of stakeholders from the agricultural sector and government officials with the common goal of enhancing agricultural practices and addressing the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in Meghalaya.

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