TURA, July 17: The Garo Hills unit of the Trinamool Congress on Wednesday came down heavily on Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for the state government’s failure to implement the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act in its original form to check influx of migrant workers.
The TMC unit also slammed him for stating that the Labour Department was the only authorised entity to check the papers of such workers.
The party asked why there has been an influx of migrant workers into the state if the Labour Department is functioning effectively.
“According to the MRSSA 2016, labourers from outside the state who come to Meghalaya for work are required to register themselves with the District Task Force or facilitation centres set up under the Act. The registration process includes verification of their antecedents, address, and other details,” TMC youth leader Richard Marak said, asking why the government failed to set up these task forces or facilitation centres.
“After registration and verification, the labourers may need to obtain a permit or registration certificate to work in Meghalaya. Employers hiring them from outside Meghalaya must also register them and ensure their verification. The purpose of this process is to ensure the safety and security of both the labourers and the local population,” he said.
Marak said the decision of the Khasi Students’ Union to erect the Inner Line Permit (ILP) check gates was a desperate attempt to fill the void left by the government’s inaction. The detection of more than 500 migrant labourers without registration and the pushback of people from Assam without valid documents are stark reminders of the government’s failure to address the influx of illegal migrants, he added.
He also strongly condemned the alleged mishandling and procrastination by the National People’s Party-led government in implementing and amending the MRSSA. “The MRSSA was crafted under the leadership of Mukul Sangma, in extensive consultation with all stakeholders to protect our indigenous population and ensure community security,” he pointed out.
“Was it truly necessary to amend the MRSSA 2016? If amendments were deemed necessary, the government should have meticulously considered the jurisdiction of the state legislature and adhered to constitutional provisions. Legislators are entrusted with the responsibility of lawmaking; their mishandling of this matter is utterly shameful. What is the true intention of the present government in stalling and complicating the implementation of such vital legislation?” Marak asked.
Asserting that the government’s decision to refer the amendment bill to the President for assent highlighted a shocking lack of foresight and strategic planning, he demanded the “immediate and transparent” implementation of the MRSSA in its original form, both in letter and in spirit.
