The Ahmedabad district administration on Monday issued a notification making it mandatory for all migrant labourers engaged in construction work to register themselves with the nearest police station. They are liable to be prosecuted if they fail to do so.
According to an official release, Additional District Magistrate A.B. Gor made the registration compulsory for security purposes and to help police keep a check on criminal activities.
Supervisors and contractors employing migrant labourers have to ensure registration by June 11, failing which legal steps could be initiated against them.
"This is not the first time the state is bringing in such a notification. They have done so in the past in Saurashtra region and we welcome this move. This also helps us know the exact number of migrant labourers residing in the state," said Vipul Pandya, a social activist working with migrant labourers for over two decades.
"We have been demanding that this be made mandatory as this can help us extend social benefits to the labourers in times of natural or man-made crises. The only thing that needs to be ensured is that this data is not misused and innocent labour is not booked for the crimes they have not committed," he added.
In another similar notification, the district administration made it mandatory for the management of shopping malls to register with police the names of security guards deployed and to install CCTV cameras in their establishments.
The district administration also directed all vendors of mobile phone SIM cards to verify the identity of customers before issuing them the SIM cards.
Similarly, people renting out their residential or commercial premises have been asked to submit to the nearest police station, details of the tenant, along with his or her photograph, mobile number, references and proof of their earlier residence and home town as also the amount of rent being charged.
Anyone found violating the rules would be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the notification warned.
--IANS
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