BCW Mains Practice: Q. Critically examine the proposal to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border. What are the implications and what alternative mechanisms can be considered?

Q. Critically examine the proposal to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border. What are the implications and what alternative mechanisms can be considered?

Quote to Remember:
“Borders should not divide people who have lived as one, they should only define the extent of governance.”

Introduction
The Free Movement Regime (FMR) was introduced in 1968 to enable communities residing within 16 km on either side of the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border to travel without visa restrictions. Rooted in shared ethnicity, kinship, and cultural ties, this framework has been central to people-to-people connections in Northeast India. However, recent developments including the 2021 Myanmar coup and cross-border security threats have led to a proposal by the Indian government to revoke this provision.

Significance of FMR for Border Communities

  • The FMR sustains familial, tribal, and ethnic links among Nagas, Kukis, Mizos, and other groups residing across the border.
  • It facilitates cross-border trade in agricultural goods, livestock, and forest produce.
  • The FMR acts as a humanitarian channel for those fleeing persecution, particularly post-2021, when many Myanmarese nationals entered India seeking refuge.
  • It enables religious, cultural, and social exchange, helping preserve indigenous identities.

Concerns Driving the Move to Scrap FMR

  • Rising concerns about smuggling of drugs, gold, weapons, and contraband goods.
  • Infiltration by insurgent groups exploiting the porous and lightly regulated border.
  • Difficulty in monitoring due to terrain and lack of fencing in some areas.
  • The demographic pressures created by undocumented migration are affecting state administration and resource allocation.

Implications of Scrapping FMR

  • Alienation of border tribes who historically never recognised the international boundary.
  • Potential disruption to cross-border ethnic solidarity and cultural ties.
  • Increased illegal crossings if legal movement is restricted, thereby worsening the situation.
  • Political opposition from border states like Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur, where tribal consensus is key to stability.

Alternative Mechanisms and Way Forward

  • Reform FMR instead of scrapping it entirely. Issue smart identity cards with biometric verification for registered border residents.
  • Strengthen surveillance and infrastructure, including smart fencing and e-monitoring.
  • Engage local communities and state governments in cooperative border governance.
  • Ensure refugee policies balance security and humanitarian obligations.
  • Deepen diplomatic engagement with Myanmar to manage the shared border effectively.

Conclusion
While national security is paramount, the complete scrapping of FMR could create more problems than it solves. A reformed and regulated FMR regime, rooted in sensitivity to regional realities and people’s historical ties, is essential for strategic stability, social cohesion, and humane governance along the India-Myanmar border.