Shillong: Nine years have passed since the people of Bolkrokgre opted to join Meghalaya. They remain stuck in legal limbo. The village, located near Kharkutta in North Garo Hills, sits on the border near Rangjuli. It houses 83 families. Following a 2017 hearing in Rajasimla, the residents voted to align with Meghalaya. Assam reacted by cutting electricity, purging voter rolls, and closing the village's only government LP school.
Over 270 residents now face a bleak future. They lack residency papers and Indian citizenship proof. Electricity finally arrived this February, but other services remain nonexistent. No job cards or low-cost housing programs reach them. The village school, which previously served over 80 students, sits empty. Students now commute to private or government schools in Kharkutta to keep learning.
Resident Rosu Sangma expressed the frustration of an entire community. "All benefits that were being provided to us as part of Assam have been taken away, but that is not the main issue. It is now close to 9 years since the decision and, as of yet, we are yet to be provided any form of identity to prove we are residents of Meghalaya," Sangma stated. Local Sordar Letminton Momin confirmed the villagers have missed two assembly elections and one MP election.
While the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council recognizes the area and collects land revenue, the state government has not converted it into a revenue village. Documents remain stalled in Shillong. Villagers have reached out to Kharkutta MLA Rupert Momin, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the Deputy Commissioner, and the BDO. These pleas have yielded little action. Matchokgre Nokma Kruchep A Sangma confirmed that all Aking map documentation was filed with the Council. Critics argue the delay shows a deep, systemic failure within the state government.
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