Shillong: Various Garo Hills advocacy groups met with Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar at the Tura Lok Bhavan on Wednesday. Representatives from the Garo Students Union, Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo People, Association for Democracy & Empowerment, Achik Youth Welfare Organisation, and Federation for Achik Freedom attended the session. They presented a long list of grievances and policy demands to the state head.
Sengbath Ch Marak, president of the AYWO, told reporters that the groups pushed for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit to curb illegal migration. Since the central government has yet to provide assurances on that front, the delegates urged the governor to force the immediate enforcement of the 2016 Meghalaya Residents Safety & Security Act. They also expressed concern over border fencing issues. Many residents in border zones lost land and have yet to receive promised compensation.
The coalition pushed for the inclusion of the Garo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Marak argued that such a move would allow Achik youth to take exams in their native tongue. He stated, "Garo ku-sikkoba Eighth Schedule-o napatgenchimode, A-chik chadamberangba, dingtang dingtang porikkarangko ku-tangchin sepana cholrangko man-pagen."
The organizations also demanded the immediate filling of staff vacancies at the Tura Lok Bhavan, specifically calling for local Achik youth to be given priority for these roles. Finally, they raised the 2014 peace pact signed with the Achik National Volunteers Council. They pressed the governor to expedite the formation of a State Finance Commission, a requirement under the 2014 agreement meant to boost regional development that the government has failed to establish since 2016. The groups have scheduled another meeting with the governor for November 16 to continue these discussions.
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