SHILLONG : Khliehriat MLA and former state minister Kyrmen Shylla has said that many young people from East Jaintia Hills have been forced to leave Meghalaya in search of employment following the ban on coal mining in 2014, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and job-related fraud outside the state.
Speaking to reporters, Shylla said coal mining once provided significant employment opportunities for local youth, but the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the sector has affected livelihoods across the district.
“Before 2014, many of our youth had employment opportunities because coal mining was operational. But for the last 12 years they have been waiting. Out of helplessness, many have left to seek employment elsewhere,” he said.
According to the MLA, some young people who travel outside Meghalaya in search of jobs end up being deceived by individuals who promise employment and better wages. He said many are forced to leave not by choice but because of the lack of opportunities available closer to home. Shylla advised youth to remain cautious while accepting job offers and urged them to verify employment opportunities before leaving the state.
He said those seeking work outside Meghalaya should inform district authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, particularly when recruitment is being facilitated by private individuals or informal contacts.
“If there are genuine opportunities outside, that is a good thing. Even the government encourages people to work abroad and gain experience. But if someone is simply inviting you through personal contacts without proper documents or proof that the workplace is safe, people need to be careful,” he said.
The MLA statement come amid continuing debate over the future of coal mining in Meghalaya and its impact on employment in coal-producing districts. Over the years, leaders from East Jaintia Hills have repeatedly argued that restrictions on coal mining have affected local livelihoods and reduced employment opportunities for thousands of families dependent on the sector.
The issue has remained politically sensitive, with demands for a sustainable and legally compliant framework for coal extraction continuing to surface. It is also gained renewed attention in recent days as coal miners continue their hunger strike seeking the reopening of legal mining operations in the state.
At the same time, the Meghalaya government had said that regulating and monitoring mining activities remains a major challenge, previously noting that more than 22,000 coal mines require oversight across different parts of the state.
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Shylla’s latest remarks have once again brought attention to the human impact of the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the sector. While discussions on legal mining, environmental safeguards and regulatory compliance continue, many residents including NGOs in coal-producing areas continue to ask what alternative employment opportunities have been created for communities that once depended heavily on the coal economy.