Lawyers’ forum demands Khasi, Garo languages in Eighth Schedule

SHILLONG: A forum of young lawyers of the state has been established to push for recognition and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Daniel Stone Nonglait, chief legal convener of the forum ‘I am Fearless’ said there was a need to recognise Khasi and Garo languages in the next Constitutional amendment to conserve the culture and identity of the two tribes of the state.
“Another main reason is that Khasi and Garo communities are a matrilineal society,” Nonglait said at a press conference in the city on Friday. He added that it was time for the Khasi and Garo languages to be recognised since Assamese, Manipuri and Bodo languages have also been recognised under the Eighth Schedule.
Nonglait further stated that there has been demand to recognise around 42 languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
“During the 92nd Amendment of the Constitution in 2003, there was demand for recognition of around 38 languages out of which only 4 languages – Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhili – were recognised.”