The Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, which was approved by the cabinet to facilitate visitors’ registration with the state government, is yet get the governor’s assent.
The ordinance was approved by amending the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016.
The ordinance seeks mandatory registration of outsiders who want to enter Meghalaya.
The ordinance was sent to the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday for the assent of the governor, Tathagata Roy.
Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said the state government will redraft the existing rules of MRSSA for implementing the ordinance.
Also read: Meghalaya Residents Act amended to facilitate visitors’ registration
The rules will be circulated to hotels, guest houses and home stays to ensure that people visiting the state are registered with the government.
The ordinance will be brought in as a bill in the next session of the state Assembly.
According to Tynsong, the ordinance is not like the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as it is mandatory for people from outside Meghalaya to register with the state government for safety and security.
Permanent residents of Meghalaya both tribals and non-tribals as well as employees of the central government and paramilitary forces are exempted from the registration process.
Tynsong said persons, who are not residents of Meghalaya and intend to stay more than 24 hours in the state, should furnish information to the government.
“This is for the interests and safety and security of all those who visit the state.”
“This ordinance is not to restrict people from entering the state but to ensure that people who intend to visit the state as tourists, labourers or any other purposes, should come with the knowledge of the government,” he said.
Tynsong added that the registration process is simple as it will be done both online and offline.
