Shillong: The Synjuk Ki Nongniah Taxi Sor bad Khapsor, a coalition representing taxi drivers in urban and suburban areas, has called on the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to impose restrictions on issuing labour licence certificates to non-tribal drivers.

The demand was raised during a meeting with Winston Tony Lyngdoh, the Executive Member overseeing the Labour department, on Wednesday.

In a memorandum presented to Lyngdoh, S Rynjah, the working president of the association, pointed out that many non-tribal drivers are operating local taxis without the necessary labour licences from the Council.

He argued that this unregulated activity has significantly reduced the income of tribal taxi drivers in the region.

Rynjah also revealed that last year, the group worked alongside KHADC officials to inspect non-tribal drivers in areas like Rynjah, Laitumkhrah, and Nongmensong.

Despite fines being imposed on those found without proper licences, he expressed dismay that many continued their operations unabated.

He recalled raising the matter with the previous Executive Member of the Labour department, only to discover that the official was unaware of the ongoing violations by non-tribal drivers.

The association has now pressed Lyngdoh to enforce stricter measures against these breaches and advocated for policies to block non-Khasi drivers from obtaining labour licence clearances.