Demand for inclusion of Garo language in Eighth Schedule

SHILLONG: A group of NGOs comprising of Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Federation for A’chik Freedom (FAF), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE) and A’chik Youth Welfare Organisation (AYWO) submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to push for the inclusion of Garo Language in the 8th Schedule on November 24.
The letter observed that the inclusion of Garo language in the 8th Schedule will come as a boon to the Garo hills region and promote the language, culture and identity of the Garo people.
The GSU said that the Constitution is not rigid and has no restriction on the number of languages that can be included in the 8th Schedule.
“There are over 20 lakh Garos in India and over 2 lakh in Bangladesh,” the letter said adding that the community has been striving hard to uplift the language and has succeeded to an extent.