Shillong: More than 2,000 Garo residents crowded the Sildubi Mini Playground in Mallangkona this past Saturday. They gathered to protest a government policy forcing all applicants to pass a Khasi language test for District Selection Committee recruitment. The crowd demanded that officials include Garo as a test option.
Six local organizations spearheaded the event, including the Mallangkona Area Development Organisation, the Mallangkona Area Council of Headmen, and the Mallangkona Women’s Federation. They also represented the Mallangkona Youth Multi-Purpose Society, the Achik Krima Mallangkona Regional Unit, and the Mallangkona Area VO, SHG.
The January 2026 government memorandum created this requirement for Khasi-Jaintia Hills districts. Meanwhile, Garo Hills districts require a Garo language paper. Protesters argue this policy ignores generations of Garo families living in the Khasi Hills. MADO general secretary Manuel Ch Marak explained that while many Garo residents speak Khasi, reading and writing the script remains a barrier. He stated, “Most of us living in Khasi Hills know how to speak Khasi, but the script is beyond the scope of our people.”
Marak warned that the mandate threatens the economic future of local Garo youths. MADO president John Sangma noted that the group already took their case to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, two Deputy Chief Ministers, and the Governor. Sangma claimed the Chief Minister dismissed the issue as a paper policy, which failed to satisfy the group. The Governor suggested that the law could be struck down if proven discriminatory, yet no progress occurred.
United Achik Youth Federation secretary Zimichrist G Marak promised to escalate the campaign. The groups plan to hold village meetings across the Khasi Hills to rally more support. They also intend to lobby state MLAs. Beyond the recruitment test, the protesters demanded the appointment of Garo headmen and more Garo language teachers for local schools. The movement is now waiting for a short window of government review before launching further actions.
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