The Khasi Students Union (KSU) continues to defy the writ of the state government by persisting in checking the legal status of migrant workers in the state.
The union’s Mawlai circle pushed back 21 migrant labourers without valid documents while its Nongpoh circle sent back 15 migrant workers engaged with construction of a Polytechnic at Nongkhrah in Ri Bhoi district.
The migrant labourers pushed back today have failed to produce valid documents or work permit, the KSU said in a statement.
Recently, the KSU and other groups like the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynñiewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF), Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Achik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO) and Federation for Achik Freedom (FAF) have voiced their frustration over the government’s inadequate measures to control the flow of migrant labourers and illegal immigrants.
Thousands of labourers have been affected by the groups’ activities in various parts of the state this month while police have registered around 10 cases against the unauthorised checking of documents carried out by them.
What followed these incidents was a decision by the pressure groups to come together united to “help” the state government implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 by conducting checking against illegal migrants in the state.
Although the Meghalaya Assembly passed a unanimous resolution in late 2019 in favour of ILP and the amended MRSSA was passed by the legislature, neither has received consent from the Centre.