State Government failed to deliver on its promises
SHILLONG: Following the failure of the Meghalaya government to provide the rehabilitation package as promised eloquently by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma during the signing of the peace pact in September last year, the ANVC-B has decided to organize Bawil-Dawil (tombola with slight modification) to raise funds to look after its cadres.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, the ANVC-B said they were left with no option but to organise this game to sustain themselves after they were betrayed by the State government.
“This is our initiative to sustain our members and also to keep them engaged with some activity so that they are not distracted or forced to return to the jungle out of frustration,” the ANVC-B said, adding, “It is pathetic to resort to such means but we are left with no option.”
“We are unable to face our boys each day and tell them that there is no response from the Government. We are not extorting nor making any demand. We hope this initiative will help us to a certain extent,” the ANVC-B said.
According to the outfit, no help has been coming from the government due to which the young people who came forward to join the mainstream with high hopes are now mostly disappointed. “There is no support and lack of political will have made these young people lose hope,” the ANVC-B said.
The outfit also stated that said that frustration was setting in due to a series of summons, arrests and harassment which the former cadres face at their native places.
“We fear that without proper rehabilitation these youths will be lured away by other militant organizations,” the ANVC-B leaders said.
“The State government must rehabilitate these youths to send a strong message to other organisations or it may just turn out to be the other way round which in the long term cannot be mended,” it added.