Editor,
I want to raise an urgent and serious issue that’s becoming hard to ignore in Itanagar: the increasing number of illegal Bangladeshi migrant labourers in our city. Whether it’s ‘bhanga sina luha tina’ or construction work, they’re everywhere. It’s a problem that’s only getting worse, and it’s putting our future at risk.
The reason behind this is simple: our local people refuse to take up these daily wage jobs, and who is to be blamed for all this? Along with the state government, the mindset of the people also has to change. Construction work, manual labour, and other daily wage jobs are being filled by outsiders instead. And while we need workers for development, the fact that so many are coming in illegally is a ticking time bomb for our state. Some argue that “Humlog ka aadmi log esa type ka kaam nahi kar sakega.” I totally rebuke, despise and dread such people saying nonsense stuff, undermining the capabilities of local people. I would tell them: Ulta humlog ka local aadmi log jyada acha se esa type ka kaam kar sakega if they are properly trained and guided.
If this trend continues, what will happen to local job opportunities? What happens when our streets are full of outsiders doing the work our own people won’t? This isn’t just about labour – it’s about our identity, our security, and our future.
If this trend continues, the state may soon face severe consequences. A future where construction and daily wage jobs are dominated by outsiders, without proper regulation or documentation, could lead to significant problems in terms of security, employment, and the overall identity of our local community.
We must address this issue by encouraging our own youths to participate in such sectors, and ensuring that the workforce is legally employed and regulated. The government needs to take stricter measures to monitor and control the influx of migrant workers and implement proper policies to safeguard the interests of the local population. I wonder whether proper ILP verifications are even done at check gates or not, especially at Hollongi check gate. Surprise checking of ILPs in and around the capital region should be carried out sometimes.
I urge the authorities to take strict measures to regulate migrant labourers and encourage local youths to get involved in the workforce. The future of our state depends on it.
A citizen