Shillong: Residents of Bolkrokgre, a border village under the Matchokgre Aking, report receiving zero support from the Meghalaya government. They officially chose to join the state in 2017. Their choice triggered severe consequences. The Assam government immediately cut off electricity and removed all 83 families from the Assam electoral roll. This village once belonged to the Assam border territory. A public hearing in Rajasimla that November finalized the transfer. Residents now lack proof of identity as citizens of Meghalaya.
Basic services vanished. The Assam government shuttered the village’s only lower primary school. Children must now travel to other villages to attend school, with many forced into private institutions. Local Sordar Letminton Momin confirmed the crisis: “Chingni songo LP skul dongjahani gimin mitam bi·sarangde, Kharkutta-o donggipa sorkari skulrango poraienga aro mitamrangde, private skulrangosa poraina nangtokenga. Ia skulo skie on·gipa mandekoba Assam sorkari okamatpilaha aro chinga da·o bi·sarangna lekka porako on·na gita maming cholrang dongjaenga.”
The lack of documentation remains a major hurdle. Residents cannot vote in state assembly elections or parliamentary polls because they lack election ID cards. Villager Rosu Sangma noted that despite the nine-year wait, they remain excluded from schemes like MGNREGA and PMAY. Their only current benefit is electricity, which finally arrived this past February. The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council recently incorporated the village and began collecting taxes. Villagers have appealed to Kharkutta MLA Rupert Momin and sent letters to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. Relief has not arrived.
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