SHILLONG: The youth wing of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has given the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council two weeks to start inspection of trading licences.
The president of KHNAM state youth wing, Thomas Passah, has urged the KHADC for random inspection starting from Iewduh and to take punitive action against those who do not possess licences.
“If the KHADC does not do so within 2 weeks, then the KHADC should empower the KHNAM to conduct the inspection along with enforcement from the KHNAM,” Passah said in the memorandum to KHADC chief executive member HS Shylla.
“We have surveyed the market place and found that there are some non-tribals who possess only one trading licence but has two shops. Secondly, we found that more than 40 per cent of the non-tribals say they have sent their trading licences for renewal,” he told reporters later.
KHNAM also alleged that the district council staff facilitate renewal of licences.
“The Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation, 1954, should be implemented in letter and spirit. It is time we protect ourselves from the people of the plains,” Passah said. ) Earlier, the KHADC’s Executive Member (EM) Trade Antonio War had said that council only gives its recommendations after the non-tribals get NOC from Dorbar Shnong.
Referring to this comment, Passah said the no-objection certificate should be recommended by Rangbah Shnong with Dorbar Shnong’s approval and the headman should not decide alone.
“We do not agree to such a statement by the EM Trade. The final authority will be the district council,” he added.
