SHILLONG: At a time when NGOs in the state have warned contractors against bringing labourers from outside, NPP leader and Phulbari MLA, S.G Esmatur Mominin has stressed on their need for the speedy development of the state while the government is committed to ensure that no one stays permanently.
The MLA’s observations come in the backdrop of reports of labourers hailing from the plain belt area of Garo Hills and engaged in construction of the Assembly complex in Mawdiandiang here being harassed and beaten recently on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. Recalling that weeks ago he received a call that labourers from the plain belt of Garo Hills were harassed and beaten, Mominin said that he rushed to the area, got in touch with the police and settled things. “They come here to benefit us as we do not have sufficient labourers,” he said while adding that there are lots of developmental works going on in the state but there are not enough labourers,” he said.
Stating that the public should not be reluctant to allow the outsiders, Mominin said that the government is committed to make sure that no outsiders overstay in the state.
“We have the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act now and under this nobody can stay here beyond 24 hours without informing the government,” he said.
Stating that if the state has to fast-pace infrastructure development, help from outside in terms of labourers is required as they are scarce in the state, Mominin reiterated that the state government will make sure that they are not here as permanent residents and leave the state as soon as their work is done.
It may be mentioned that the state has been grappling with the problem of influx for decades and in the absence of any mechanism to check influx many such instances of harassment of labourers or travelers on suspicion of being illegal immigrants have been reported.
