The Free Movement Regime allows people living on either side of the India-Myanmar border to travel 16km into each other's territory without documentation.
According to Indian media, the entire border fence, which is designed to curb insurgency, smuggling and drug trafficking, may soon be dismantled.
The aim is reportedly to curb the misuse of the FMR, which rebel groups use to launch attacks on the Indian side before fleeing into Myanmar, to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, and to disrupt gold and drug smuggling networks.
The 1,643-kilometre Indo-Myanmar border (IMB), currently under FMR and manned by the Assam Rifles, runs through the states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. It came into effect in 2018 as part of India's Act East policy, which aims to increase trade between India and ASEAN and other Southeast Asian countries to boost the region's economies.
Any member of the hill tribes who resides within 16 km on either side of the IMB and is a citizen of either India or Myanmar is eligible to cross the border under the FMR. The border pass is valid for one year and the visitor can stay for a maximum of two weeks at a time.
It's a system that has allowed tribes on both sides to continue their long-standing relationships, travel without visas and trade. In addition to improved educational opportunities, people from Myanmar are specifically looking for job opportunities in India.