Shillong, Apr 30: Several non-indigenous taxi drivers were found to have not possessed labour licenses issued by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

This was detected during a checking conducted around Shillong city on Monday by members of the Khun Kynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) State Youth Wing, Hynñiewtrep Tourist Taxi Association (HTTA) and East Khasi Hills Taxi Association (EKHTA).

The checking was carried out after the KHADC failed to pay heed to the demand put forth by the three organizations on the need to take action against non-indigenous taxi drivers who did not have labour licenses. They had earlier served a two-week deadline to the KHADC to act, but to no avail.

Speaking to reporters KHNAM State Youth Wing president, Thomas Passah said that several non-indigenous taxi drivers have failed to obtain the labour license from the KHADC and slammed the Council on the issue.

He alleged that the KHADC has failed to deploy enforcement personnel to assist the organizations while conducting the checking which reflected that “they (KHADC) did not bother at all.”

Passah said that the names of such drivers and the number plate of their respective taxis will be submitted to the KHADC chief executive member, P.N. Syiem for necessary intervention.

“Not only that the Council is losing revenue, but this has also affected employment avenues of local youth,” he said.

Meanwhile, the KHNAM State Youth Wing said that that the organizations would be compelled to file complaint against these non-indigenous drivers if the KHADC remains adamant in taking necessary action against them.