GS SCORE- India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR)

ByIasscore
myanmar

The central government has decided to scrap the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR).

Need of the move

  • Myanmar is currently under military dictatorship.
  • The country is facing the rebellion of ethnic armed groupsand pro-democracy forces.
  • Due to the crisis, there has been a significant influx of people from Myanmarto bordering Indian states.

What is Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar?

  • The FMR came into existence in 2018 as a part of India’s Act East policy.
  • It allows cross-border movement up to 16 km without a visa.
  • The agreement was brought to facilitate local border trade, improve access to education and healthcare for border residents, and strengthen diplomatic ties.
  • Under the agreement, individuals were also allowed to up to two weeks in the neighbouring country by getting a one-year border pass.

Myanmar Border Sharing

  •  India and Myanmar share a 1,643-km-long porous border which is shared by multiple North Indian states like Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Manipur shares approximately 390 km of a porous border with Myanmar, with only about 10 km fenced as of now.
    • Mizoram has a porous border spanning 510 kilometres with Myanmar.
    • Arunachal Pradesh shares a 520-kilometre border with Myanmar
    • Nagaland’s border with the country spans 215 kilometres.
    • Currently, all these states come under FMR.