Shillong: A pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) organisation in Meghalaya has launched a campaign to identify and remove undocumented migrant workers from construction sites in Shillong, with around 15 labourers reportedly asked to leave during a drive at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus.
Members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Mawlai Circle, conducted the operation as part of what they described as the “Sier Lapalang Operation” (SLO), aimed at checking outsiders working without mandatory documents such as labour cards.
HYC Mawlai Circle organising secretary S Marwein said the drive marks the start of a broader campaign this year to monitor undocumented migrant workers in the area.
He said the organisation plans to intensify the operation across Mawlai to ensure that those working in the locality possess valid documents.
During the drive at the NEHU campus area, the group said around 15 non-tribal labourers allegedly working without proper documentation were asked to leave the site.
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The organisation also appealed to contractors and builders operating in Mawlai to prioritise hiring local Khasi workers, citing concerns about unemployment among local youth, as mentioned in a report.
Marwein alleged that some contractors prefer bringing workers from outside the state because they are willing to work for lower wages, which, he said, reduces employment opportunities for local residents.
The group further cautioned contractors to respect the community’s appeal when hiring labourers, warning that cooperation would help ensure that construction activities continue without disruption.
The issue of undocumented migrants and the employment of workers from outside the state has remained a sensitive topic in Meghalaya, with several local organisations demanding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit system to regulate the entry and stay of non-residents in the state.
