SHILLONG, July 17: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday claimed that a BJP MP in Delhi has offered to take up the demands for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said he had received a call from BJP Rajya Sabha member Rakesh Sinha as well as Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar as the KSU continued with its drive against migrant labourers.
Speaking at an event organised to pay tributes to Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem on his 189th death anniversary, Thabah said it is surprising that many Cabinet ministers are not aware about the provisions as laid down under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.
“Many of our Cabinet ministers are confused since they have no idea that amendment to the Act made it mandatory for the migrant workers to obtain a work permit from the Labour department,” the KSU general secretary said.
He said news about the KSU’s drive against the migrant labourers reached the BJP MP Sinha in Delhi and he expressed concern that such activities will affect the state’s overall development and progress.
“I had told the MP that the 15 lakh population of the Khasi indigenous tribe needs special protection. He offered that he is ready to take up the demand for the implementation of ILP and the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Thabah claimed.
Meanwhile, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar claimed that they have managed to push back over 2,500 migrant workers who had allegedly failed to produce valid documents during the drive at construction sites across Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.
Marngar asked how many cases the government has filed against migrant workers who were found without valid documents and what action is being taken against contractors for violating the rules.
“We are intensifying our drive against migrant labourers due to the failure of the state government to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016. We are also upset over the Centre’s failure to fulfil the ILP demand to address the problem of influx and illegal immigration,” Marngar said.
He said they will engage with other pressure groups to decide on their next course of action. He made it clear that they will not succumb to the tactics of the police who are trying to “demoralise” their members by summoning them.
“We are firm on intensifying our drive against the migrant labourers,” Marngar said, adding, “We are forced to take this drastic step as it will be a wake-up call for the government.”
Criticising Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for creating “confusion” with the statement that there is no work permit system, the KSU president recalled that the state government had in 2011 come up with an amendment to the Meghalaya Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Service) Rules for the creation of 39 labour inspector posts to address the issue of influx.
The government had in March 2010 decided to issue a notification on the new amended rules under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Regulation Act 1979 (Amended in 1985) in order to speed up the process of implementing work permit system in the state.
The implementation of it is aimed at checking the unabated influx of illegal migrants as well as labourers from outside the state.
The then Congress-led government took the decision at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Influx (CCI) which was attended by then Labour Minister Paul Lyngdoh who was also the committee chairman. The meeting was attended by the members of KSU, FKJGP, GSU and JSU.
Stating that the work permit will be valid only for 179 days so that the migrant labourers cannot claim the right of permanent residence in Meghalaya or do not get voting right, Lyngdoh in 2010 had made it clear that rules made by the Autonomous District Councils for issuing labour licence or work permit to labourers will not stand as the rules made by the state government will automatically supersede.
As per the rules, if a person resides anywhere in India for six months, he is entitled to get voting right. The CCI, constituted in 2007 to work out the modalities for implementing the work permit system, had recommended amendment to the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act.
In 2008, the Cabinet had brought an amendment by attaching new rules to the existing Act. This was aimed at strengthening the Law Department and authorising Superintendents of Police and officers in-charge to verify the documents of migrants before their registration by the Law Department officials, Block Development Officers (BDOs) and District Magistrates.
While the BDOs can issue licence or work permit at the local level, DCs and the Labour Commissioner would act as the licencing authority at the district and state levels respectively.
