Shillong, October 26: A delegation of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Central Executive Council, led by its president Raymond Kharjana, met Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday to press for the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, address recruitment-related concerns at NEIGRIHMS and seek a thorough inquiry into allegations surrounding the public hearing for the proposed Shree Cement Limited project. The delegation also raised the need to frame rules under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, to facilitate its implementation.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kharjana said the Chief Minister had assured the delegation that arrangements would soon be made for KSU leaders to meet the Union Health Minister to discuss recruitment-related issues at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS). On the MRSSA, Kharjana said the union had strongly urged the state government to implement the principal Act without further delay, stressing the need to make the legislation operational. The discussions also covered the establishment of facilitation centres and procedures relating to the implementation of the MRSSA.
Regarding the proposed Shree Cement Limited project, Kharjana said the union had requested the Chief Minister to direct the Fact-Finding Committee to visit villages and interact directly with residents who could be affected by the project. The committee was constituted to examine allegations that several organisations and residents of Elaka Nongkhlieh were prevented from participating in the public hearing conducted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on July 31, 2026. Kharjana said visits to the affected villages would allow committee members to gather firsthand information and establish the facts surrounding the allegations. The union emphasised that the concerns and grievances of the affected communities should be properly heard and examined before the committee reaches its findings.
The KSU also urged the Chief Minister to expedite the framing of rules under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, to enable the effective implementation of the legislation.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, in a social media post following the meeting, confirmed that discussions had been held with KSU leaders on several important issues, including recruitment at NEIGRIHMS, facilitation centres and procedures under the MRSSA. “Met with the leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) to discuss key issues highlighted by the Union,” Sangma stated.
He further assured that the government would continue engaging with the union to address the concerns raised. “We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue to address these concerns and work towards solutions that protect the interests of our people,” the Chief Minister said.
