Companies should not disregard local laws: Paul
SHILLONG: KHADC Executive Member in- charge of Trade, Paul Lyngdoh said the Trading by Non-Tribals Regulation will be amended to include other types of business, including online business services which will be introduced in the coming District Council session.
He said this in the context of closure of online food company, Swiggy.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Lyngdoh said the companies from outside the state should not disregard the local laws.
In response to the closing down of Swiggy, he said, “Even if they provide employment avenues to the local people, they should not disregard our laws. People from the state cannot easily set up a shop in Hyderabad, we should know the local laws”.
He added that the primary importance is to know the local laws while providing employment is only secondary.
Most of the delivery executives of Swiggy are local youths who were earning a livelihood and sudden closure of the services have affected them.
There are, however, also opinions that KHADC should not have been so harsh since it is a question of livelihood of the locals and the council should have had given them fixed timeline to process their trading license papers before rushing into the decision of closing down the service in Shillong.
Health Minister, AL Hek expressed concern over the closure of Swiggy, which according to him has affected the local youth.
He said prior notices should have been issued before taking sudden step to close down the service provider.
On Tuesday, opposition Chief whip and Congress leader PT Sawkmie has asked the state government to take action against Swiggy and Rapido bike services for operating in Meghalaya without the permission of the government.
Lamenting that the laws in Meghalaya are weak, he added that the government must take action against the companies or else the laws of the state will become a laughing stock.
He also said the people from outside are running schools, resorts and hotels in the state without permission from the government.