It looks like the pressure groups (not NGOs) in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya have decided to synchronise their agenda of embarrassing the MDA Government by following up on their acts from one day to the next. One day it’s the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) threatening to lock up the Khasi Hills District Council (KHADC) alleging it of failing to check the trade licenses of companies operating in the State, more precisely in Ri Bhoi district. The next day it is the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) which stopped all tourist vehicles with Assam registration from crossing Umtyngar near Mawkdok one of the favourite spots for tourists to stop by as they get their first glimpse of the floating clouds across the ravine. The third day it’s the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) checking labour licenses of migrant labourers and then also the Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Students (FKJGP) also an avowed cheerleader for the suffering class in the State. All these groups seem to have decided to jointly make the lives of those running the Home Department miserable – beginning with the Home Minister, Prestone Tynsong. Unless spoken to by media-persons, Tynsong will not speak up and condemn what is happening currently which is the complete absence of the rule of law and where every group has taken upon itself the task of governing this state by proxy.
How could the police not be aware that the HNYF would be banning Assam registered tourist cabs and private vehicles from entering Sohra, Dawki, Pynursla etc., on Friday? What was the Intelligence Wing of the Police doing? Any use of force by any group without following due process of law is a crime. The HNYF have no authority vested on them to prevent tourist vehicles from other states from entering Meghalaya and the tourist destinations, if there are no formal rules and regulations from the Government here that tourist taxis from outside can only be allowed up to a certain point from where the local tourist taxis would take over and ferry the tourists to their destination of choice at Government regulated rates. In Meghalaya it’s a free for all as far as taxi charges are concerned. Passengers feel they are being fleeced and prefer to use the Assam vehicles which are relatively reasonable.
The Meghalaya Tourism Policy, 2023 claims that, “to address the issue of the safety of tourists coming to Meghalaya, a dedicated police team may be set up as Tourist Police Force. The Policy says “taxi services play a vital role in tourist transportation. Hence, the government could focus on ensuring safe and comfortable road transit for tourists. All the tourist taxis may be enrolled with the Tourism Department. All such cabs should clearly display the driver’s details including name, photograph, and contact no. Additionally, emergency numbers are to be properly displayed in these cabs. The taxis may also be retrofitted to have a SOS button. A dedicated helpline could be set up as a single point of contact to resolve the queries of the tourists.” Obviously, these are statements of intent which have not been implemented. The question is why?
