By Bijender Sharma

DHARMSHALA, Himachal Pradesh Government would be formulating required guidelines for registration of foreigners visiting the state and labourers coming to Himachal Pradesh in search of odd jobs after examining all related legal aspects besides other considerations. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while informally interacting with the mediapersons here today.

Chief Minister said that the state had been welcoming the foreign visitors to the state and concerned about their safety and security during their stay. He said that reports were pouring in from different quarters relating to the law and order problems being created by a section of foreigners overstaying their visa validity in the prominent tourist destinations of the state. He said that a number of cases had been reported from Kullu-Manali, Dharamshala etc. destinations where some foreigners over stayed their visa validity period thereby defying the visa provisions applicable to foreigners visiting the country. He said that the state government was seriously considering formulation of guidelines to register every foreigner visiting Himachal Pradesh and ensure that their stay was restricted to the visa period permitted on their passports. He said that it would be in the best interest of the foreign visitors to ensure their safety and security during their stay period in the state, besides maintaining good law and order conditions. He said that the practice would also help in maintaining the record of the foreigners visiting the state at a time.

Prof. Dhumal said that a large number of workers had been coming to the state in search of odd jobs from different parts of the country and majority of them besides working in the industrial areas had penetrated deep into the inner parts of the state in search of their livelihood. He said that although the state government had made in mandatory for every employer and worker to get the labourers registered with the competent authorities and obtain photo identity card required to be produced by the holder whenever asked for. He said that in some cases the provisions were being adhered to while in other cases some unregistered labourers were getting involved in unlawful activities creating law and order problem in the state. He said that the state appreciate the contribution being made by the migrant labourers in infrastructure building all over the state but at the same time it was worried about the safety of the native people and migrant labourers as well. He said that at some places incidents of theft, abduction, kidnapping and killing by suspected migrant labourers had taken place thereby raising serious law and order problems in the peaceful state. He said that although strict vigil was being kept on anti social elements but some miscreants entering the state as labourers had been responsible for such activities. He said that the contractors and sub contractors bringing migrant labourers for various project construction works in the state would be required to get them registered with the competent authority and photo identity cards issued to them after proper verification of their domicile. He said that all concerned departments had been directed to initiate effective steps to formulate the guidelines for registration of every migrant labourer coming to Himachal Pradesh in search of odd jobs.

Replying to a question Prof. Dhumal said that price rise happened to be a global phenomenon and centre subject since it were the policy of the Union Government to take necessary required steps to check the price rise, especially of the essential commodities. He said that Himachal Pradesh happened to be a consumer state and the food grains were being imported from other states. He said that the wrong policy of the Union government had resulted in price escalation making life of common man difficult. He said that although the previous government had announced scheme of subsidized rations to the ration card holders without making any budgetary provisions. He said that it was only when the present government came to power that supplementary provision of Rs. 70 crore was made to pay for the subsidized essential commodities through fair price shops as also making provision of Rs. 90 crore for the same during current financial year with a view to make all such commodities available to the consumers at affordable prices against their ration cards.

Chief Minister said that the state authorities was keeping strict vigil over the hoarders and checking that no artificial scarcity of such commodities was created in the markets. He said that the state government would deal with such traders strictly as per the law of the land and ensure that every essential commodity was made available to the consumers in the open market as well. He clarified that the family ration card holders would be entitled to draw a maximum of 35 kgs. of rations every month as per earlier provisions, however, the single member would be eligible to draw 20 kgs. of ration every month.