Ngos opted out of HLCI first meeting, even as the committee invited public opinions on influx

Shillong, Sept 28: Even as ngos opted out of the first meeting on “High Level Committee on Influx” (HLCI) constituted by the Meghalaya government, its chairman and deputy chief minister Bindo M Lanong has decided to issue a “public-notice” inviting stakeholders to give their views, suggestions and information on issue relating to foreigners or labourers to the committee.

Immediately after the first meeting of the HLCI Friday, Lanong said, “We would issue a public notice immediately asking people to offer the committee with their suggestions or information on the issue.”

Ngos opted out of Friday meeting of the HLCI as the government has not included all the NGOs as members of the committee.

Lanong informed the ngos have demanded that the government should include each representative from all the ngos in the committee and  said, “Considering their opinions, the committee has decided to recommend that the government may allow one representative from each ngos in the committee.”

Regarding the public notice Lanong said the stakeholders will be asked to submit their inputs to the committee within two weeks.”

The HLCI was constituted by the state government for reviewing the influx situation in the state and suggests a “multi-pronged” strategy and approach to deal with the issue, to examine and outline the role of traditional institutions and its empowerment in dealing with the problem of influx and to recommend a comprehensive institutionalized mechanism to deal with the influx.

During Friday meeting sans the ngos, the committee deliberated at length on the role of the dorbar shnongs and traditional institutions in dealing with the influx problem in the state.  Areas have also been identified by the committee which includes “influx of foreigners” and “migration of people (labourers) from other states” into Meghalaya.

The next meeting of the committee will be held on October 15.  Lanong informed that the committee will submit its report to the government before the first week of November.

Friday meeting was attended by Meghalaya education minister Dr RC Laloo, Nongkrem legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit, CEMs of KHADC and JHADC and GP Wahlang representing the civil societies. – By Our Reporter