Hotel regulation

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAR 24: The Meghalaya government will come up with a mechanism to regulate hotels and guest houses across the state to check and prevent illegal activities including sex trade.

Replying in the Assembly here, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said that the proposal of the police department to enact a “regulatory mechanism” for granting licenses to hotels, motels, guest houses, resorts is under active consideration of the government.

“The government is considering the suggestions of the police department to put a mechanism in place to regulate hotels and guest houses in the state,” he said.

While moving a call attention notice, UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh expressed concern over the recent statement made by some sex workers that hotels/guest-houses are the “safest places” for immoral activities

These sex workers in an interview by a local news channel also revealed the names of some of the hotels/guest houses which include the one owned by the home minister’s son from where a 14-year-old girl was rescued earlier this year.

Pointing out that over 600 female sex workers have been registered with the Manbha Foundation, Shillong, Mawthoh said the government cannot be complacent on the matter which needs proper intervention from its part.

“If we allow sex trade to flourish and do not address the problems faced by single mothers, Shillong will one day be known as a capital of sex and crimes,” he said.

The home minister said that the police department is seized of the matter and the Director General of Police (DGP) has already directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (ER) to conduct a thorough enquiry into the revelations made by the sex workers.

He added that the proprietors and managers of different hotels and guest houses in and around Shillong have also been summoned by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (ER) for questioning and the process is still on.

He also said that the DGP had directed both the Dy IGPs of Eastern Range and Western Range to instruct the district SPs to have meetings of the owners and managers of the hotels/guest houses in their respective districts.

The SPs have further asked to instruct all such hotels/guest houses to install CCTVs at appropriate places, maintaining of proper records of guests and ensure no illegal activities should be carried out in their hotels.

“Hotel owners and managers are also warned that if sex workers are found frequenting their hotels and guest houses, action will be taken as per law and their hotels and guest houses will be sealed,” Lyngdoh said.

He also shared the concern expressed that there are certain deprived and underprivileged members of the society who are made to enter this trade due to economic compulsions.

“We need to fight this malice collectively and in a concerted way. This practice is not only illegal but it is a societal problem as well,” Lyngdoh said while seeking the cooperation of the members, families, NGOs and others to fight this problem in a holistic way.