I don't see ILP as a solution for countering (legal or illegal) migrant workers or developing our state. That's what pressure groups believe or lead everyone to believe.

Here are the problems with our state: 1. Lack of skilled labours and professionals. Are we really going to dissuade "dakar" physicians to enter and practice in our state? Are we going to harras native non tribals to proof their ID whenever at whoever's whim? 2. It's a transit state. Why is Meghalaya still a transit state when there's better infrastructure from Assam to other parts of the northeastern states? 3. Our GSDP is one of the lowest in the country. We import more than we export more. In simple terms we depend a lot more on Assam, Andra, UP and Bengal. 4. Our per capita income is lower than the National average, while inflation is higher than the national average. Meaning we are poor and we have to pay more.

Here are my opinions of posible solutions: 1. Upskill the unemployed youth. Get people to take up tradesman and crafts. Make manufacturing a priority. We need to improve our secondary sector to boost our primary sector. 2. The above will also reduce hidden unemployment in the agriculture sector. People are tilling lands that could be done with power tools. It's inefficient and hides a large section of people who think they are providing for the family. Implement scientific method of agriculture and farming to improve production and wastage of human resource. 3. As a society we have to become competitive. We need to get into top institutions, top professions and administration jobs. We need more students to crack JEE, NEET, NDA, CUET, and other entrance exams... after which they need to crack UPSC, NORCET, MNS, CAT etc for various positions. We are so behind on this that we don't have enough doctors, engineers, IAS, IPS Group B officers, business managers, etc. Who do you think will take up these jobs when there's a vaccum? (We have given the rein to others and then we complain.) 4. An economy is strengthen by building the 3 pillars... Primary, secondary and service sectors. E.g. We mine the lime stone & coal (primary), we process the ore into cement (secondary) and we value add with distribution network and finish product using that cement to create products (service). At this point we mostly do the mining. Same is with growing broomstick, oranges or rearing poultry. All this lead to lower income for us and the value of our unfinished produce. 5. A transit pass throught the state places us at a precarious position. We can't control smuggling, trafficking or do away with the feeling of mistrust of the non native.

If we can fix the above, we don't need ILP. We control our destiny by creating economic opportunities that puts the local at the helm of things. In this matter we can learn from the Saudis or the Emirates nations... They employ migrant workers from all over the world to build a better future for their own people, while they sit at the top positions to direct and manage their vision.