IMPHAL, April 16: In pursuit of its long standing demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the State, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has warned of launching severe forms of agitation in case the Home department fails to produce a white paper publicly on incessant influx of migrants into the State within five days.
Addressing a press meet at its office situated at Keishampat Sega Road this evening, JCILPS convener Khomdram Ratan said that a total of 431 migrant workers engaged in various developmental projects in the State have been pulled up and later handed over to the police.
He contended that 50 percent of the migrant workers do not possess valid identification document while the remaining possess forged identification documents.
As per the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment & Condition of Service) Act, 1979, the concerned firms must register with the Labour department and obtain license and accordingly give passbook to its workers, he said.
Details of workers, duration of their work and other vital informations should be included in the passbook, he maintained.
The convener categorically clarified that besides banning the projects, the migrant workers were handed over to the police for failing to adhere to the laid-out process.
He said that a complaint had been filed with the concerned police stations, demanding necessary action against the workers.
However, no action has been taken up so far against them, he lamented.
Therefore, the Home department should produce a white paper on the rampant influx of migrants into the State within five days failing which the committee along with the public will launch intense agitation, he talked tough.
The ongoing drive against illegal migrants is conducted for organized sectors, he said pledging to continue the drive on un-organized sectors as well.
Stating that the government has not materialized the seven-point agreement signed with the JCILPS, although it is alrady seven months since it was signed, he reiterated that the agreements include setting up Population Commission and Land Reforms Commission besides producing white paper on the demographic imbalance which can be done without the consent of the Central government.
During the press meet, the JCILPS convener also cautioned that non-locals should not be allowed to contest in the upcoming Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) election scheduled to be held on June 2.
He declared that the committee will hold district-level meeting for leaders on the issue from tomorrow to gain momentum of the ongoing movement which includes poster campaign, non-cooperation and drive against illegal migrants.