Centre all set to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border

As per media reports on Tuesday, a senior government official has said on January 2 that the Centre is all set to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border,

The report stated that as per the officials, people living in border areas, who could cross over to India, will soon require visas, the official added.

India and Myanmar share an unfenced border, and people on either side have familial and ethnic ties, which prompted the arrangement in the 1970s. It was last revised in 2016.

The official said that around 300 km of the border will be fenced and a tender will be issued in the next few days and he added that a survey of the border areas with the help of drones has been complete.

Amid apprehension that States such as Nagaland and Mizoram may oppose the move, the official said, “Border security is Centre’s domain. We may take note of their concerns but the final decision is of the Union government. We are in talks with Myanmar.” stated the report.

Under the FMR, every member of the hill tribes, who is either a citizen of India or a citizen of Myanmar, and who resides within 16 km on either side of the border, can cross the border on production of a border pass, usually valid for a year, and can stay for up to two weeks per visit.

It is worth mentioning that the Manipur government has suspended the FMR since 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on September 23, 2023 that he has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to cancel the FMR along the India-Myanmar border and complete its fencing.

Regarding the Free Movement Regime (FMR) which allows citizens living along the border on either side of India and Myanmar to travel up to 16 km inside the other country, without a Visa, Biren had said that  the state government has  advised the  Centre to permanently close the FMR with Myanmar.

The chief minister had  said his government has a firm belief that the Centre will also consider the request for closing the Free Movement Regime.