NONGPOH:
The Khasi Students Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills District, on Tuesday, met the officer in-charge of the Anti-Infiltration Check Gate at Byrnihat seeking clarification on transit of migrant workers without proper permit or documents to work in the state.
Members of the KSU alleged that some migrant workers, who it was earlier learnt were to be “hired” at a cement factory in Jaiñtia Hills, spoke of paying at least up to Rs 4000 to the officer in-charge to pass through the gates on March 12.
Speaking on the matter organising secretary of KSU, North Khasi Hills District unit, Lester Nongbet, accused the government of ignoring the violation of the Meghalaya Residential Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, and Meghalaya Inter-State Migrant Workmen Rule, 2011. Nongbet said the check gates require more labour power to manage, and threatened extra-legal intervention if its demands were not met.
Nongbet said that it is not enough for workers with Indian identity cards to pass through the gates if they do not have the necessary permit as per the rules for inter-state migrant workmen.