SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has issued a high-alert warning to youth and parents regarding a dangerous rise in human trafficking and educational scams targeting those seeking greener pastures outside Meghalaya.
With Meghalaya’s economy struggling, currently ranked the lowest in the North East and the third-lowest in India for per capita income, thousands of desperate youth are fleeing the state for jobs in mega-cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. But for many, the “dream job” is turning into a living nightmare.
KSU General Secretary, Donald V. Thabah, revealed a chilling rescue story that highlights the gravity of the situation. On March 17th, two young women from Jaintia Hills—one of whom is a minor—were lured to Haryana with promises of respectable work in a spa. Instead, they were held captive and forced into the flesh trade.
Thanks to a swift, high-stakes operation by the KSU Delhi Unit, the girls were rescued from the clutches of their traffickers.
“Many of our youth find themselves stranded without a single rupee to return home, forced into darkness because they have no one to turn to,” Thabah warned. “This is a direct assault on the dignity of our community.”
It’s not just jobs—the education sector is also under fire. The KSU revealed that many students are being recruited into unrecognized colleges outside the state. After spending lakhs of rupees and years of hard work, these students return home only to find their certificates are worthless scraps of paper.
The KSU are taking the fight to the authorities. Thabah slammed the state government’s inaction, demanding immediate and aggressive legal intervention.
The union demanded that the Meghalaya Government must immediately file FIRs and arrest the kingpins of these fraudulent agencies.
Since 2015, the Union has demanded a mandatory registration and vetting process for all recruitment agencies operating in the state.
The KSU warned that local “middlemen” are betraying their own people, selling out fellow citizens to outside agencies for a quick commission.
The KSU has urged all parents and students to verify every job offer or college admission through the KSU Helpline Desk.
“Don’t trade your future for a lie,” Thabah concluded. “Check with us first to ensure the place you are going is safe and legitimate.”
