Meghalaya decides to set up 'haats', allow labourers to return

Meghalaya government today decided to set up 'haats' or traditional markets along the Assam-Meghalaya border to boost trade in the West Garo Hills district and allowed labourers, who had fled following disturbances, to return if they registered themselves.
Vegetable vendors from Dhubri, Mankachar and Haatsingimari could sell their produces in border haats to be set up in certain areas of the Assam-Meghalaya border for the time being, West Garo Hills district deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi told PTI.
Labourers were free to come back to work in the Garo Hills provided they underwent registration, he said adding, the decision was taken after a joint meeting of officials from both Assam and Meghalaya, NGOs and civil societies from both Garo Hills and the surrounding areas of Dhubri, Mankachar and Haatsingimari of Assam.

The state government also imposed stricter regulations for migrant labourers from entering the state in view of their security.
"All migrant labourers from Mankachar, Dhubri, Haatsingimari and surrounding areas are free to come back and work as long as they register themselves with competent authorities on entry into the Garo Hills," Bakshi said.
About 12,000 migrant labourers had fled from five Garo Hills districts after nine migrant labourers were killed in two separate incidents last month, forcing the state government to enforce strict regulations for their safety.
Labour contractors were asked to register their employees and warned of severe penalty in case they did not.