Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to highlight the recent death of two migrant workers from Assam in Arunachal Pradesh.
The recent infrastructure investment booming in Arunachal, spurred by the discovery of rare earth materials and growing strategic concerns over Chinese incursions has led to a marked rise in migrant labourers. There is a degree of ‘dependency syndrome’ in the state where most youths remain unemployed, and there is less availability of local labourers in blue-collar professions.
Notably, the Mising community of Assam, who share Tani ancestry with Arunachal tribes, has come forward to help the state. But tragically, this shared heritage has not prevented workplace violence – two recent grievous attacks against Mising people, one involving a machete and another a firearm, arose from construction site-related disputes. It is respectfully submitted before the Arunachal DGP that in light of recent developments, the machete used in the first incident under reference qualifies prima facie as a ‘dangerous weapon’ under the scope of the Arms Act, 1959. Given that it was used intentionally to inflict fatal harm, it is therefore respectfully requested to consider registering the weapon as an unlicenced arm and invoke relevant provisions of the Arms Act against the accused.
There exists a credible risk of recurrence, considering the gravity of the offence and its wider social fallout. Though these attacks are framed as individual criminal acts, these are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deeper societal malaise. The state must urgently invest in vocational training of local youths to pursue dignified blue-collar work near the districts where heavy infrastructure is under progress.
Simultaneously, migrant labourers must be protected under codified safety norms, and the local labour officer should be directed to register those workers under the e-Shram portal, and as on 16 March, 2023 data available, only 32.07% has been registered in the state. Thereafter, the official must provide dry ration to them under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
Our Constitution imposes an obligation on the part of the state to protect the dignity of the individual at all places, including at the workplace. It is reflected under Article 42 and 43 of the Indian Constitution. It is, therefore, an earnest appeal before the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh and also its kind people to protect the labourers from any kind of harassment, as they come to work for the development of your state, leaving behind their family members.
Shahin Yusuf,
Guwahati, Assam