Editor,
I am writing to express my growing concern over the rising number of migrant labourers in Arunachal Pradesh, especially in Itanagar and Naharlagun. When you walk through the streets of Naharlagun, local people are hardly visible-everywhere you look, the streets are flooded with migrant labourers. If this trend continues, Itanagar too will face a similar fate.
Despite the abundance of job opportunities in the construction sector, thousands of youths from the state remain unemployed, and yet they rarely opt for blue-collar jobs. In stark contrast, neighboring states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland have successfully engaged their own people in such sectors, ensuring that the economic benefits stay within their communities.
One alarming aspect of this migrant influx is that many of these labourers earn nice wages, yet they often conceal this wealth from the outside. They work quietly for months, and in some cases, even years, sending remittances back home while reinvesting their earnings in the local economy. Over time, their families gradually move here to settle, further contributing to the overcrowding of Itanagar. This growing population of migrant families not only strains our limited resources but also intensifies the competition for housing, infrastructure, and public services, all of which are already stretched thin.
Meanwhile, local youths, who are in need of employment, continue to face limited opportunities. Firstly, the mindset of our people should change. Parents should encourage their children and youth to take up blue-collar jobs rather than allowing their children to waste their time studying like book-worms for years and years in search of jobs. Nowadays, time is so very important. Secondly, the government must take immediate steps to reverse this trend by investing in skill development programs for local youths. Vocational training centers can equip them with the necessary skills for construction, plumbing, carpentry, and other essential trades. By empowering our own people, we can reduce the dependency on migrant labor and ensure that Arunachal’s growth benefits those who call it home. And our youths should also be willing to come out of their comfort zones and start willing to take up these kinds of jobs. Initially it may seem difficult, but with time and practise, in the long run, there will be efficiency in the process.
It is also important to shift the societal mindset around blue-collar work. Such jobs should be recognized for their dignity and value, offering stable incomes and a direct role in shaping the state’s future. Arunachal youths must be encouraged to take pride in contributing to their own state’s development, rather than relying on outsiders to fill these roles.
To preserve our identity, culture, and resources, we must prioritize the inclusion of local talent in the workforce.
A local youth