SHILLONG, AUG 28: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to soon come up with a data on the numbers of non-tribal traders who are operating their businesses legally or illegally in the different districts falling under the council’s jurisdiction.
This was informed by the Council’s chief executive member (CEM) Pynshngain N Syiem to a delegation of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) which met him here on Monday as part of its Save Hynniewtrep Mission (SHM) for implementation of strong anti-influx laws.
“He (Syiem) has directed the trade department officials to prepare a complete data which will highlight the details of all the non-tribal traders who have been issued with trading licenses by the Council,” HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters.
The KHADC had issued 450 trading licenses out of 475 applicants during January 2014 till October 2016 as per an RTI reply to the information sought by the HYC earlier this year. The revenue generated by trade department was Rs 39.46 crore during 2015-16.
The RTI, which also revealed the various anomalies in the process of issuing the trading license, had earlier in May, prompted the HYC to demand the immediate cancellation of these trading licenses citing they are in violation against the “spirit” of Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act.
Kharjahrin however said that they have decided to give a month’s time for the KHADC to complete the process of preparing the data.
“The data as per the CEM would highlight the names of the licensee traders, the location of his/her business and the kind of trade he/she is operating. If it is found that the trading license issued is not in line with the Act, it will be liable for cancellation,” he said.
According to him, the provisions of the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act has clearly prohibit issuing of trading license to non-tribal on the trade which local indigenous people are working or are willing to take up.
He also said the Act also mandated that a non-tribal trader has to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the village dorbar duly signed by the headman and all executive members, which however at present was signed only by the headman and secretary of the village.
Stating that the KHADC has a major role in ensuring the interest of indigenous people is protected, Kharjahrin said that out of 14-point of demands, two issues related to issuing of trading and labour licenses are subject connected to the district council.
Earlier, the KHADC has also adopted a resolution during the budget session held in June to examine on the matter.
In order to further check on illegal trade within the region, he said that the HYC has also demanded the district council to set up its enforcement branch in all the four districts – East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi, which was agreed by the CEM.
The KHADC has also assured to check on the cement and good carrying trucks having registration number from outside the state to ensure that they apply for trading license from the district council.
“However, we have asked the district council to examine on why it should issue trading license to such trucks, a trade which our local indigenous people are engaging. We were of the opinion that such licenses should not be issued to such trucks from outside,” he said.
Meanwhile with regards to labour license, Kharjahrin said that the CEM has assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with the executive committee for cancelling the decision to outsource to private parties the task of issuing labour license to migrant labourers.
The PDF led EC had issued work orders on November 3, last year to two individuals for issuing of labour license.
While Pynshngain Nongbet will be issuing labour license to non tribal labourers working in Ri Bhoi District, Felix Kharpuri will be looking after East Khasi Hills District. The work order will expired till November 2, 2019.
“Instead of private parties, the district council is likely to entrust this responsibility to the village authority,” Kharjahrin said.
By Our Reporter
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