NONGPOH : The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) North Khasi Hills District Unit has questioned the Meghalaya government’s claim that the proposed Food Court at Umling will create employment, asking what happened to the youths who were previously employed at the Facilitation Centre.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with district authorities in Ri Bhoi, KSU North Khasi Hills District Unit President Ferdinald Kharkamni said the government was using employment generation as a justification for constructing the Food Court.

He questioned the fate of the local youths who had earlier been appointed at the Facilitation Centre when it first became operational. According to Kharkamni, the government must explain where those employees are before claiming that the Food Court will generate more jobs.

The KSU leader clarified that the union is not against development projects that genuinely create employment opportunities. However, he argued that the government’s claim that the Food Court alone would significantly increase employment is not convincing.

Kharkamni also questioned how many local youths from Ri Bhoi have actually secured jobs at existing dhabas, petrol pumps and other commercial establishments in the district.

He said these examples raise doubts about whether the proposed Food Court would provide meaningful employment opportunities for indigenous youths.

The KSU has maintained that the government should first fulfil its earlier commitment to construct the Facilitation Centre at Umling, which was originally planned to strengthen the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, before proceeding with the Food Court project.