Shillong, July 24: A conglomeration of eight anti-influx groups have unanimously decided to ‘help’ the state government implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 by conduct massive checking against illegal and undocumented migrants across Khasi, Jaintia and Garo regions of the state.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the eight pressure groups – Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep 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) – held at the FKJGP’s state office at Mawlai in Shillong on Wednesday.

After the meeting, KSU chief Lambokstarwell Marngar said, “We have unanimously decided to assist the government, which seems to be facing a huge shortage of manpower, for immediate implementation of the MRSSA, 2016. Therefore, in the coming days, pressure groups will conduct massive checking against illegal and undocumented migrants across the state.”

“The state government has been playing with the influx issue and because of this, we will help the government to fully implement the MRSSA in letter and spirit by intensifying checking against illegal entry into the state,” he said.

Marngar reminded that the MRSSA was passed by the state government way back in 2016 and said, “The MRSSA was framed because the government had made it clear that the ILP is a subject of the central government but sadly the government is yet to implement this important legislation.”

He said that the recent claims made by chief minister Conrad K Sangma that the MRSSA is being implemented in the state was just a “media statement” because there is absolutely no sign of implementation on the ground.

“The CM had talked about the district task force (DTF) but representatives of the localities, who attended the meeting called by the deputy commissioner, had informed that the meeting was just a consultative to implement the MRSSA. When we sought to know the status of the MRSSA during our recent meeting, the CM told us the government is still examining and has tried to bring necessary amendments in 2020 but the same was subjected for scrutiny by the Centre. Also during the meeting, the CM said the matter is under examination whereas before the media, he claimed that the government has already implemented the MRSSA, we really don’t know which one is correct,” he said.

He further reminded of the resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on December 19, 2019 urging the Centre to implement the inner line permit in Meghalaya. However, when Union Home Minister visited the state, not a single word was said about ILP. “When we enquired from the state government, the reply was that the matter is still under examination. We really don’t understand where the government is trying to find a cure to this influx problem. Therefore, as NGOs, we are determined to intensify checks against illegal and undocumented migrants across the state,” he added.

In addition to this, HNYF president Sadon K Blah alleged that the government is regretting passing the MRSSA because it is affecting its “vote bank”.

Stating that the entry-exit points and district task forces (DTFs) are very important ingredients of the MRSSA, he said, “In regards to the entry-exit points, the government had convened a meeting with NGOs many times and explained about the impact assessment, land acquisition and said there should not be any problem as not much land is required. The government had assured that land acquisition has been done in Garo Hills and the process of land acquisition was going on this side (Khasi and Jaintia) and that the social impact assessment has been done but till today government has lied that the Covid checking point is an entry-exit point.

“If Conrad is saying that work permit is not required but, in the entry-exit point, he is saying that people have to report to the entry-exit point to take permission to enter the state and to produce documents, means he is already challenging the MRSSA and existing law, which is the Inter-State Migrant Workers Act and this is totally unacceptable,” Blah emphasized.

He suggested that if the amendment is taking time, the government should first implement existing MRSSA, 2016. “I agree that it seems the government do not have the necessary manpower to implement MRSSA. Therefore, we are left with no option but to help the government to implement the MRSSA to check unabated influx into the state,” he added.

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