KSU says prevent economic invasion

SHILLONG, APR 4: Khasi Students Union (KSU) demanded immediate legislation of strong and effective laws to prevent ‘economic-invasion’ by influx and said such influx is also posing a serious threat to the indigenous tribal land and its people.

The clarion call was made through pamphlets released by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in a meeting to observe the annual ‘Khasi National Awakening Day’ held at Motphran on Saturday.

“It is high time for the Autonomous District Councils – KHADC & JHADC to come up with stringent and effective laws while leasing shops in markets falling under their jurisdictions which will rather promote and provide opportunities to indigenous people to run and manage business and trade on their own,” the KSU pamphlets said.

KSU also demands that KHADC and JHADC effectively implement the existing laws such as the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act, Benami Act and others.

Stating that there is a need to streamline the biggest traditional market, Iewduh in as far as ownership is concerned, the union said, It cannot be denied that this market is the economic backbone of the indigenous community but at present there is a state of confusion when it comes to its ownership.

According to the union, only 982 non-indigenous businessmen in Iewduh have obtained trading license from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) but thousands of them are operating their businesses illegally.

Further as per the survey, 30 out of 100, non-indigenous businessmen owns shops, 35 out of 100 were executing their business through leasing the shops and only 35 out of 100 are tribal who owns shops and are leasing shops to run their businesses.

“But majority of the indigenous people are operating their businesses on the roadside and outside big shopping complexes in the city,” the union said which citing that these survey does not indicate any positive hope to the indigenous community.

Based on the survey, the union questioned in what manner the non-indigenous traders has the right to have ownership on the shops in Iewduh and how it started.

While stating that Hima Mylliem is the custodian of the Iewduh market, the union further questioned how a shop can be sold permanently to a non-indigenous businessman despite the existence of the land transfer Act which prohibits such things.

“This may be because the indigenous business community doesn’t have enough financial assistant to open big business and pay huge amount of rental fee as expressed by local traders during the survey,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the KSU also emphasized on the need to revisit the existing laws and whether the laws are suited to the present economic situation or not keeping in mind the invasion of new traders in the state.

The authorities concerned should also examine the existence of the benami Act as to how it will be implemented in the present era of Foreign Direct Investment.

“What is important is to strengthen the existing acts and laws making them strong and effective to ensure that they protect the economic interest of the indigenous people of the state,” the KSU asserted.

The KSU also urged the shop owners in Iewduh and other parts of the city to give first preference to lease their shops to local indigenous business community.

“At the same time, the state government should also come up with laws to regulate the issue relating to leasing of shops in Shillong, new markets and across the state in order to ensure that indigenous people gets the optimum opportunity in the economic growth and development,” the KSU pamphlet said.- By Our Reporter