Milpitas(California)Jalandhar/Chandigarh — The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has strongly condemned what it describes as the Punjab government’s continuing failure to establish and effectively implement a comprehensive, transparent and legally sound system for the verification of migrant workers and temporary residents in the state.
NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said the organisation has repeatedly urged the Punjab government to adopt stronger measures to address legitimate security and public-safety concerns associated with inadequate documentation and verification. He stressed, however, that NAPA’s position is not a call for collective punishment, discrimination or hostility toward migrant communities. Security Cannot Begin After a Tragedy—Verification Must Begin When a Person Enters the System,” added Chahal
“Every innocent person, regardless of where they come from, deserves protection under the law,” Chahal said. “At the same time, every government has a fundamental responsibility to know who is residing and working within its jurisdiction. Failure to establish proper verification mechanisms creates vulnerabilities that criminal elements can exploit.”
According to NAPA, every person entering Punjab for employment or temporary residence should be subject to a transparent, non-discriminatory and legally established verification process. Such a system should protect both Punjab’s residents and honest migrant workers while ensuring that individuals involved in criminal activities cannot exploit gaps in administration.
Chahal also called for greater accountability among employers, contractors, labour suppliers and landlords, who should be required to maintain accurate and lawful records of workers and tenants and provide relevant information to government authorities when required by law.
“The responsibility for public safety cannot be shifted onto ordinary citizens,” Chahal said. “It is the responsibility of the Punjab government to establish a functioning system of documentation, verification, information-sharing and accountability. Citizens should not be expected to compensate for administrative failures.”
NAPA emphasized that Punjab does not need a conflict between Punjabis and migrant workers. Punjab has historically welcomed people from different parts of India who come to the state to work and build their livelihoods. Honest workers should be treated with dignity and fairness, while criminal activity must be dealt with firmly under the law.
“The answer is not hatred. The answer is law, documentation, verification and accountability,” Chahal said. “We must protect innocent migrant workers from discrimination while simultaneously ensuring that criminals have nowhere to hide.”
NAPA called upon the Punjab government to immediately review its existing migrant-worker and temporary-resident verification mechanisms and determine where enforcement gaps exist. The organisation also urged the government to strengthen coordination between police authorities, local administrations, employers and other relevant institutions.Chahal said that preventive governance must replace reactive governance.
“Welcome those who come to Punjab to work honestly. Verify everyone through the law. Protect everyone. Punish criminals. Hold negligent employers and contractors accountable. And hold the government responsible when basic verification is not carried out.”
NAPA stressed that public safety should never become an excuse for discrimination, nor should concerns about discrimination become an excuse for administrative inaction. A democratic government must be capable of doing both—protecting vulnerable communities and protecting the public from criminal elements.
“Security cannot begin after a child is murdered or after another tragedy takes place,” Chahal said. “Verification must begin when a person enters the system. Prevention is the responsibility of government, and accountability cannot be postponed until after lives are lost.”