Pradhan greeted by twin protests over Centre’s delay to implement ILP, demand for regularization of casual workers

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 21, 2022

On being greeted by twin protests, Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, who arrived on Saturday to attend the XXVII convocation of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), got down from his official vehicle to talk to the protesters and assured to take up their issues with the Central government.

Held amid tight security, the twin protests were organized by Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which has been demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), and the casual workers under the banner of the All NEHU Workers Union who are demanding regularization of their services.

After giving a patient hearing to the concern expressed by the KSU leader Pynkmenlang Sanmiet on the Centre’s delay to implement the ILP in Meghalaya, Pradhan assured to convey the message to the central government.   

He asked the young leader his name and said, “Thank You I will convey your sentiment”.

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Sanmiet had informed the union minister that the KSU along with the people of Meghalaya have been demanding immediate implementation of ILP since the 1980s but till date there has been no response from the Centre.

The KSU leader further questioned as to “why in the state in Manipur as soon as the BJP came to power, overnight they (Centre) implemented the ILP but here in our state till now we are still waiting for the implementation of the ILP”.

On the other hand, the leaders of the All NEHU Workers Union also urged the intervention of the union minister for regularizing the services of the casual workers, who have been working in the university for the past 30 years.

Pradhan said that he has noted their point and would also take up the matter with the Centre.