Establishments hiring illegal Bangladeshi migrants to face music: Maharashtra government to enforce online verification

Time of India

2 days ago

Mumbai: The state govt Friday issued a circular holding owners of establishments accountable if they employ illegal Bangladeshi migrants, effectively making them responsible for providing shelter to such individuals, and said it will amend the law, if needed, to initiate action against the errants.
The govt will also implement an online system for verification of documents, says the circular issued by the home department. It further said that police inquiries found many infiltrators were employed by builders, small and large industries, traders, and other economic entities mainly due to their willingness to work for lower wages. "These entities fail to recognize that such actions may harm national security," said the circular.
The circular further said that any official found assisting such infiltrators in obtaining govt documents using forged papers will face criminal prosecution.
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Earlier, in March, while responding to questions in the assembly on the action taken against Bangladeshi infiltrators, junior home minister Yogesh Kadam had said govt has asked developers and contractors in Mumbai to give an undertaking that they did not employ Bangladeshis.
The issue of illegal migrants came to focus after a Bangladeshi national, who had illegally entered India and was living under the alias Bijoy Das, broke into actor Saif Ali Khan's Bandra residence and stabbed him and his staff during a burglary attempt in Jan.
Friday's circular, issued by state home department, noted that Bangladeshi infiltrators exploit state welfare schemes. "Since national security is paramount, no infiltrating Bangladeshi should be employed under any work or at any commercial establishment.
All administrative departments must issue instructions to their regional offices accordingly," stated the circular. Govt has also asked the departments concerned to "strictly ensure that infiltrating Bangladeshis are not employed in any establishments that come under administrative supervision — such as construction workers, mechanics, welders, drivers, plumbers, and waiters".
After illegally entering Maharashtra, Bangladeshi nationals often obtain various proofs/govt documents/certificates to establish their stay here.
Sometimes, they tamper with original documents and apply for govt certificates based on forged documents. Hence, the verification of documents submitted with applications should be carried out by the respective systems/departments that originally issued those documents or certificates, stated the circular.
If, during verification, it is found that the application was made based on forged documents, it must be cancelled, and a mechanism should be set up to prevent future applications based on the same documents.
In case a verified copy is required during issuance, verification should be done using DigiLocker certificates to ensure accuracy and reliability of the submitted documents.