Work permit, concerns over filtering migrant labourers out are expected
to be addressed during the discussion
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 18: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma has invited the leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union for a discussion at his chamber at noon on Friday.
KSU general secretary, Donald V Thabah on Thursday said they received the letter for the meeting from East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah.
The invitation from the chief minister follows the KSU’s threat to intensify its drive against migrant labourers across the Khasi Hills.
Members of the union have been checking the documents of labourers because of the government’s “failure” in ensuring the implementation of the inner line permit or ILP and the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar told reporters on Wednesday that he was unofficially told about the pressure group seeking an appointment with the chief minister.
“We are ready to address the concerns expressed by the pressure groups. I am hopeful that the meeting between the CM and the leaders of these groups will put an end to the current stalemate,” he said.
Stating that there could be lapses by the Labour Department, Dhar said any problem cannot be solved on the road and needs to be deliberated across the table towards finding a solution.
On Wednesday, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar claimed more than 2,500 migrant workers were pushed back after they failed to produce valid documents. The students’ bodies have been checking the papers of labourers at various construction sites across the Khasi-Jaintia region for the last 12 days.
Sangma had recently stated that there is nothing like a work permit in Meghalaya. He said there is a process whereby labourers are registered by the Labour Department for their safety and to keep their records.
Stating that nobody is authorised to check the documents of labourers, he said checking by groups and individuals was not according to the law.
The KSU, however, slammed the chief minister for “falsely claiming” that there is no work permit system in Meghalaya. It said the chief minister was trying to mislead the people.
The union had also reminded the chief minister about the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation & Employment and Condition of Services) Act, 1979 (work permit), that was implemented in Meghalaya in 2011 by the then Congress-led government.
“This is a message to the chief minister: enough is enough. We have seen that you are trying to shield the people from outside and oppress the indigenous people. But the union will always stand in your way, and come what may, we will not allow that to happen,” the KSU had asserted.