Guwahati: The East Khasi Hills district administration on Tuesday stepped up efforts to improve implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) by holding separate meetings with traditional institutions and local community leaders, as demands continue to grow for stricter enforcement of the law.
The discussions, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal at the district conference hall, included representatives from urban localities, Dorbar Shnongs, Dorbar Raids and chiefs of different Elakas.
According to officials, it was the first time the administration had formally engaged traditional chiefs and Elaka representatives on issues related to the Act’s implementation.
After the meetings, Baranwal said the administration’s immediate goal is to ensure that every tenant living in East Khasi Hills is brought under the MRSSA registration system, regardless of religion, ethnicity or native place.
He said the law requires all tenants to be registered and the administration is working towards achieving complete compliance across the district.
Baranwal explained that although officials have regularly interacted with Dorbar Shnongs and locality committees in the past, consultations with traditional chiefs had not been held earlier because they are not assigned a direct legal role under the existing provisions of the Act.
He said the administration nevertheless sought their cooperation as their support would be important in extending tenant registration to rural and semi-urban areas falling under their respective Elakas.
Earlier in the day, officials also assessed the progress of the online tenant registration system in 16 localities selected for the pilot phase.
These areas have been equipped with laptops, internet facilities and training to help them carry out digital registration and demonstrate the system for wider adoption across the district.
Baranwal said the review meeting generated several practical recommendations aimed at making the online registration process more efficient.
Among the proposals was a facility to download tenant records in spreadsheet format so that the information could be shared quickly with police instead of being compiled manually whenever required.
Participants also suggested allowing Rangbah Dongs to enter information on the portal, since the current system permits only landlords and tenants to complete registrations. They further recommended introducing a mobile application to make the platform easier to use.
The Deputy Commissioner said the administration would forward these suggestions to the state government, describing them as practical measures that could simplify implementation.
He said technical assistance and training from the government would continue, but stressed that the effectiveness of the MRSSA ultimately depends on active participation by local communities and Dorbar Shnongs.
While some localities have made good progress, others still need to improve implementation, he added.
Baranwal said zonal magistrates will continue visiting localities to conduct awareness programmes and encourage both landlords and tenants to register under the Act.
He also said the administration tracks implementation through an online dashboard that provides real-time information on registrations, approvals and rejected applications, with access available to both district officials and the Superintendent of Police’s office.
Asked about demands from pressure groups for immediate implementation of the MRSSA despite pending amendments with the Union Ministry, Baranwal said the government’s instructions are to continue enforcing the existing law.
He said support from civil society organisations is welcome, but successful implementation ultimately depends on participation at the locality level.
The Deputy Commissioner added that the administration will continue providing training and technical support to village authorities and local bodies to improve implementation throughout East Khasi Hills.
Responding to questions on differing opinions over whether the present law is adequate, Baranwal said decisions on amendments rest with the government and the district administration will act according to the directions it receives.