By Our Reporter
Shillong: In a candid confession, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has admitted that the influx problem in the State has begun to turn alarming.
“When I visit certain parts of the State I feel that I am not in my own State. The local indigenous people are losing their dominance in some areas which is really sad,” Dr Sangma said while speaking to reporters here on Friday.
Taking a serious note on the ever-increasing influx problem in the State, the Chief Minister said the State Government has already issued a notification for the implementation of the work permit system for registering all the migrant labourers in the State.
“The Government has kept its promises by initiating the process for implementation of the work permit system as assured to the NGOs who are spearheading the fight against influx,” he said.
The Chief Minister also lauded the NGOs for continuing to pressurize the Government for the past so many years on the need to put a system in place to check the influx problem.
According to Dr Sangma, the Government would initially started the implementation of the work permit with whatever manpower available till the time when labour inspectors are appointed in each of the 39 blocks in the State.
The Labour Inspectors would be charged with the responsibility for implementing the work permit system and would be supported by personnel of the Infiltration Wing of the police department and the magistrates.
The Chief Minister informed that the State Government has constituted a District Level Committee which would includes members nominated by both the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of each districts.
The committee would be headed by the Additional Deputy Magistrates as chairman, Dr Sangma said while adding that Labour Inspectors would be the member secretaries of the committee.
He said that the committee would submit reports regarding progress on the measures taken up for checking of influx in the State.
Replying to a query, the Chief Minister said the process for appointment of the Labour Inspector is currently underway.
“Once the department is ready with the proposals we would immediately initiate the process of appointment. We are contemplating to make these appointments through a single window clearance,” Dr Sangma said while informing that Chief Secretary WMS Pariat has been asked to prepare the modalities for the single window clearance.
Replying to another query, he said the process for creation of the separate Anti-Infiltration Directorate was being examined by the various departments.
“We need to understand that all these things require time. But we would ensure that they put in place at the earliest,” Dr Sangma said.
When asked about the financial involvement in the whole exercise, he said the financial implication was being worked out.
“Definitely, the cost would be huge. But we are doing this for the sake of our future generation,” the Chief Minister added.