The coming few months may be full of difficulties for the people of Meghalaya

The coming few months may be full of difficulties for the people of Meghalaya if the state government does not find a solution soon. Because the way pressure groups are forcing migrant workers and tourists to go back in the name of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and work permit, the tourism department in particular may have to suffer huge losses. Because many tour and travel agencies, looking at the current situation in Khasi Hills, have either cancelled the bookings of tourists visiting Meghalaya or have started booking for some other state by suggesting them to visit tourist places there.

Many tourists had to go back because of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) checkpoints set up by KSU. Speaking to media in Guwahati, he said, “We are very sad that in a state of our country, tourists are treated in such a way that they have to go back. Many tourists said that we have travelled abroad but even in other countries tourists did not have to face such behaviour which we had to face while visiting this state of our country, this hurt our hearts a lot. Perhaps now we should not even think of visiting Meghalaya. We felt very embarrassed after coming here.

Many transporter companies are also reluctant to take bookings for Meghalaya. They are saying that we do not want to take any risk, we are very worried about our trucks and drivers. On the other hand, according to information received from sources in the Home Ministry, considering the kind of news coming from Meghalaya, we will have to increase security in the hostels of those states where students from Meghalaya and people from Meghalaya working in these states live. Because the workers and technicians who had to face harassment in Meghalaya are very angry. He said that the workers of pressure groups do not go to other states but the biggest concern is that the students of Meghalaya and the people of Meghalaya who work or have jobs in other states should not have to pay for the activities of pressure groups.

It is known that on Friday, another Inner Line Permit (ILP) checkpoint has been set up on Athiabari Road in West Khasi Hills. This is the second checkpoint set up by the KSU within a week, before this the first checkpoint was set up at Pahamawlin in Ri Bhoi district.

Many vehicles were left stranded as the KSU activists conducted the checks. Many were also directed to register under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020 by paying a fee of Rs. 50. The Union also demanded the people entering into the state, including tourists and those with their private vehicles, to get a district wise police verification from their native place, which certifies that the person has not committed any crime yet. Even when they produced all the vehicles documents, personal identification documents including the driving licence, they were asked to return as they did not have a police verification certificate

The KSU has initiated its own campaign to curb the influx of non-tribal workers by scrutinizing work permits, particularly in construction projects across Meghalaya, especially in Shillong .

Moreover, development projects in Meghalaya may soon come to a halt as migrant workers are refusing to continue their stay in Meghalaya, with several reports of them being attacked by members of pressure groups on the pretext of checking documents and work permits. In the latest incident of attack, six labourers employed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to work on the Shillong-Umiam road maintenance project were allegedly attacked by members of a pressure group.

According to reports, the incident took place near a Bharat Petroleum fuel pump in Mawiong on July 6 when labourers employed by NHIDCL’s maintenance contractor were attacked by some men wearing masks and helmets without any provocation. An NHIDCL official said the labourers were attacked with their tools. One labourer was seriously injured. Sharing some pictures of the injured labourers, the NHIDCL official said the victims were taken to a hospital in Guwahati for further treatment. The labourers have made it clear that they will not return to the state. Because overall, the coming times may be full of difficulties for Meghalaya, especially Khasi and Jaintia Hills, if the state government does not find a solution soon. Because investors willing to invest in Meghalaya are now changing their decision