From Our Correspondent
TURA: Terming the recent economic blockade by traders from the neighbouring state (Assam) as an eye-opener for the people of Garo Hills to stand on their own, the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) has called for mass public support in its quest to seek the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and a special electoral roll that caters solely for tribals in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
Speaking at a public meeting in Tura Chandmari field on Tuesday, GSU president Tengsak G Momin said the only way to contain the influx problem was through the ILP and the special electoral roll.
“There are over 84 lakh migrants in the whole of the Northeast and as many as 60,000 in Shillong itself. Soon we will be engulfed unless we halt the mass influx taking place in our land,” said the GSU president.
He cited the cases of Assam and Tripura where he claimed the state governments were no longer in a position to halt the flow of migrant people into tribal areas.
“Only through the ILP and separate roll can we check the problem because migrants are not only coming in to trade but slowly taking over our lands,” cautioned Momin.
The GSU president also took a dig at the groups from the neighbouring state which tried to stifle the flow of essential commodities to the region through an economic blockade.
“The economic blockade failed to deter the Garos who stood up to the challenge and were able to prove to all that we do not need to be dependent on others,” said the GSU leader.
The president of the FKJGP, Garo Hills Unit, Pritam Marak, said that there is a need for more awareness to be spread to the far corners of Garo Hills in regard to the ILP while president of the A’chik Youth Welfare Organization, Addinson C Momin, sought public support for ILP in similar lines to the protest against municipal polls a few years ago.
The president of the Nokma Council, Skylance G Momin, called upon the people to fully utilize the vast abundance of fertile land to boost agricultural production which would ultimately stop the dependency for food stock from outside.
Others who spoke on the occasion included GSU vice president John Miltu Sangma and Grederson C Momin of the senior citizens’ forum. The GSU adviser and North East Students’ Union (NESO) leader Manseng A Sangma chaired the meeting.