Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Jaintia Students Union and the Jaintia National Council have joined forces to support Marshall Biam, the President of the Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers and Workers Association. Biam is currently conducting a hunger strike to demand the resumption of coal mining operations in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills, which have been stalled due to state-imposed restrictions.
Representatives from the two groups met with Biam to express their solidarity and urge the state government to engage in meaningful dialogue. They criticized officials for failing to fulfill past promises, specifically citing a 2019 pledge by the Chief Minister to facilitate the return of mining activities.
The Jaintia Students Union warned that the government must address the economic instability caused by the 2014 ban. Recalling the unrest that followed the initial prohibition, the group stated, "The prolonged suspension of mining activities has had a significant impact on employment and livelihoods in the region, where many families depend on the coal sector for their income."
Both organizations highlighted the severe financial hardships faced by local residents and called for urgent government intervention. They questioned how much longer the population should suffer the consequences of these ongoing restrictions.
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