Free movement Regime

Free movement Regime

News: Recently, the Union government has proposed significant changes in the border policies along the IndiaMyanmar border, aiming to replace the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR). This move has been prompted by concerns about misuse of the FMR by militants and criminals.

What is the Free movement regime?
• The Free Movement Regime (FMR) is a policy implemented in 2018 as part of the Central government’s Act East policy. Under the FMR, all the hill tribes, whether they are citizens of India or Myanmar, can travel within 16 km on either side of the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) by producing a border pass with a one-year validity issued by the competent authority.
• They can stay up to two weeks per visit. The FMR is implemented by both governments for the people living along the IMB. This helps locals to get more culturally assimilated with trans-border villages through weddings, celebrating common festivals together and trans-border trade.
• It is a reflection of the physical, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and fraternal linkages among the trans-border villagers.

About Indo-Myanmar border:
• The Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) runs for 1,643 km in the four states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. It runs from the tripoint with China in the north to the tripoint with Bangladesh in the south.
• Assam Rifles is tasked with guarding the IMB.

Why is there a need for change?
• The proposed changes come amid growing concerns about security and misuse of the FMR.
• The misuse, including the smuggling of weapons, contraband goods, and fake Indian currency notes, has prompted the Union Home Ministry to form a committee to reevaluate the existing rules and regulations.
• Earlier, Manipur had already suspended the FMR in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the CM had urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to cancel the FMR, linking it to ethnic violence in the state caused by the unrestricted movement of people across the border.

What are the proposed changes?
• The government plans to fence around 300 km of the border, with a tender expected in the coming days.
• A completed drone survey of the border areas will inform the implementation of these changes.
• The move is anticipated to affect States like Nagaland and Mizoram, but the Centre emphasizes that border security falls under its jurisdiction.