By Ririsasa Laloo,
Guwahti: The Social Work Department of Assam Don Bosco University, (ADBU) Azara Guwahati held a debate on “Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a step towards Development of the North East Region” on 11th August.
The moderator of the debate, ADBU Controller of Examinations Dr. Francis Fernandez reminded the students that the debate is an intellectual exercise in which sharpens the minds to argue and defend or demolish arguments with facts and figures.
The team for the motion had made the first statement which said, “ILP was first introduced by the British in the year 1873 under the Bengal Regulation Act this ILP which stands for Inner Line Permit was introduced so that it would restrict outsiders from entering tribal areas and also to give protection especially the indigenous tribals of North East, to prevent outsiders from interfering with the typical life style of hill people, to control and check the movement of the outsiders so that it can be better regulated within the tribals and non-tribal.”
The opposition team insisted that “ILP will lead to greater isolation and insulation of tribal people. It has given a false sense of security, made tribal people lazy, blunted their competitive spirit and killed their work culture.”
The debate was summed up by the faculty members of MSW and the best debater was awarded to Tomy Joseph.