By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The first meeting of the high level committee on influx held here on Friday examined the issue of influx by foreigners and influx of Indians from outside Meghalaya which includes migrant labourers.
NGOs of the State, who have been most vocal about the issue, did not attend the meeting.
Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong, who is the Chairman of the committee, told reporters that as per the request of the NGOs, the committee recommended to the Government the need to include at least one representative of the NGOs in the committee.
Earlier, only three members from prominent NGOs were allowed to take part in the discussion on influx.
The committee also decided to send a public notice appealing all sections of people to air their views on the issue within two weeks which would be examined in the next meeting of the committee scheduled for October 15.
The committee, headed by Lanong, consists of senior ministers, chief executive members of the three District Councils, representatives of traditional institutions and NGOs as members was constituted on September 4.
However, due to the short notice, all the members of the committee including the representatives of NGOs could not attend the meeting, Lanong said.
The terms of reference of the committee include the need to review the situation of influx in the State and examine the role of traditional institutions in dealing with the issue of influx and also to suggest a multi-pronged strategy, both long term and short term, and a practical approach to tackle the issue.
Lanong said that since the meeting was attended by a few members including Cabinet Minister Prof RC Laloo, legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit, two representatives from the district councils and former bureaucrat GP Wahlang, the committee only examined two areas of influx – infiltration of foreign nationals and influx of Indians from others states including migrant labourers.
He said the role of traditional institutions which can play a positive role in addressing the issue was also discussed by the committee.
According to Lanong, as per records of the State Government, the organised labourers who come to the State are categorised as Dadan and those who employ them are referred to as Sardars or Katadars, which are familiar names in Odisha.
“The labourers are deployed in the State by Sardars to see that they get deserved wages and other benefits and we have to take note of this matter,” Lanong said.
“Although the Constitution of India allows movement of people all over the country, we feel that the labourers come to the State and do not go back after the completion of their employment in the power and industrial sectors,” Lanong added.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that those labourers who do not go back are a burden to the State creating socio economic problems and changing the demography of the State.
“We are hopeful of completing our report within two months as desired by the Government,” Lanong added.