Shillong: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has written to the Governor of Meghalaya, calling for immediate intervention to address what it describes as a long-standing and escalating issue of illegal migration in the region.
NESO represents eight major student bodies from across the seven North Eastern states.
In the letter signed by NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa and general secretary Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, the organisation said the North East has been facing unchecked migration since India’s Independence in 1947. According to NESO, this has affected the social and demographic balance of several states.
NESO cited Tripura as an example, stating that the indigenous population has become a minority over the years. It also referred to Assam, pointing to the six-year anti-foreigners’ movement that led to the Assam Accord in 1985. The organisation said that despite the accord, illegal migration continues.
Meghalaya too has seen several agitations over fears of demographic change, including those in 1979, 1987 and the early 1990s. NESO said the issue is now affecting parts of the Garo Hills and other areas in the region.
“This is not only a political or administrative issue. It concerns the survival of the indigenous communities of the North East,” NESO wrote.
The organisation said both the Central and State governments are responsible for addressing the issue. It stressed that states not covered under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, are more vulnerable and must strengthen systems for prevention, detection, and deportation of illegal migrants. NESO also called for stronger border management and coordination among states.
NESO said it has raised the matter with the Government of India several times but has received only limited responses. It expressed strong opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, which allows certain minority groups from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to stay in India even if they entered without valid documents.
The organisation said the lack of firm measures has left indigenous communities to protect their identity on their own. It stated that it will continue to engage with the Centre for a long-term solution.
NESO urged the Government of India to detect and deport illegal migrants immediately; seal the India-Bangladesh border; strengthen border control with adequate personnel and surveillance; fully exempt the North East from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025.
It also sought the implementation of the Assam Accord in full; need for constitutional safeguards for the indigenous people of Assam and Tripura; preparation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the entire North East with a fixed base year for each state, and a review of the NRC of Assam.
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It also urged the government to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system across the North East; ensure migrants are not relocated within the region through inter-state coordination; protect indigenous rights, culture, language, and land ownership through laws and policies.; and setting up a special committee to review population growth in specific areas.
NESO said the demographic changes taking place in parts of the North East are a warning sign and urged the Centre to act before the identity of indigenous communities is affected further.
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