The police today summoned another group of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) activists for conducting a drive against migrant labourers in the city.
Hundreds of migrant workmen have been affected in recent days by the KSU’s drive, which has targeted the labourers rather than any contractor. Separately, the pressure group has also set up so-called checkgates in various parts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills to inspect the antecedents of people entering Meghalaya. Despite not having the writ to do either, the KSU has carried on regardless.
Police today summoned six members of the KSU of its Shillong Mihngi circle at the Sadar Police station for questioning.
Last week the Chief Minister stated that there is no system of work permits for Indian citizens in Meghalaya but that migrant labourers have to register with the state government. However, the KSU points to the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1979, a central government law that rules were formulated for at the local state level, as its justification for a work permit. The rules, though, put the onus on contractors to obtain licences for the use of migrant labour. It also claims that migrant labourers in many cases have not registered with the state’s Labour Department.
The KSU, confident in their justification, paints itself as the victims of police harassment, accusing the authorities of trying to demoralise its members by summoning them to police stations.
Meanwhile, the KSU in West Khasi Hills pushed back another 26 migrant workers engaged in constructing the Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai Road.
The project is a central government one under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), with SPICA Projects and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd implementing it.
None of these labourers had a ‘work permit’ and six could not even prove their Indian citizenship, a KSU functionary said.
The KSU’s Mawkynrew and Nongkrem circles found a further 20 migrants without ‘permits’ and in Sohiong it was another 18.
Over the course of a week, the KSU has embarked on a self-sanctioned drive at various construction sites in the state as part of its “social duties” to protect the indigenous community from illegal migration.
In addition, three check gates were raised by the group in Pahammawleiñ in Ri Bhoi, Athiabari in West Khasi Hills and Umkiang in East Jaiñtia Hills to carry out checks on “outsiders.”
The pressure group has been demanding the government to implement the inner line permit (ILP) and the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, although the state government is unable to without the sanction of the Centre.
