Meghalaya entrepreneurs face workers’ crisis post entry-exit points

Guwahati, Feb 5: There has been apparent dearth of workers like house maids, cooks, domestic helps as well as skilled manpower in Meghalaya urban centres especially in the capital city of Shillong in the aftermath of operationalisation of the entry-exit point at Umling in Ri Bhoi district.

There have been apprehensions among these migrant workers from various Assam districts, who used to work in Meghalaya location till the pandemic induced the standstill in economic activities and outsiders had to leave the hill state.

Now, though the Meghalaya government has eased restrictions related to COVID19 and educational institutions and offices, tourists’ destinations, business establishments have been allowed to function maintain mandatory Covid protocols dearth of workers have hit the business and economic activities across the spectrum.

An entrepreneur who runs a large hostel for girl students at Motinagar locality in Shillong has told that some borders of the hostels have started coming back as education institutions have started off line classes for select section of students. However, she is now faced with ‘big scarcity’ of cooks and house keepers who had left because pf pandemic for their homes in Assam and now not keen to come back as they are apprehensive of the entry-exit point and fear that they won’t be allowed in.

 This is in reality a misconception as the entry-exit points are meant to keep a tab on genuine India citizens as well as foreign nationals with legal documents coming to Meghalaya for various purposes.

The problem is Meghalaya government as failed to adequately drive home the message across all strata about the purpose of these entry-exit points.
 

Also read: Assam trader abducted in South Garo Hills of Meghalaya