KSU to hold sit-in demonstration

MAWKYRWAT: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Mawkyrwat Circle will hold a ‘sit-in demonstration’ in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills on October 22 to protest against the inability of the government to appoint a permanent District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO) and to speed up the construction of the 100-bed hospital here.
The KSU had recently given a one-week ultimatum to the government to appoint the permanent DM&HO in the district which has been without the permanent officer for almost a year and to also speed up the construction of the much awaited 100-bed hospital which was pending even after 8 years of laying the foundation stone.
General Secretary of the KSU Mawkyrwat Circle, Rutherford Lyngdoh said, “It seems the ultimatum was turned a deaf ear to and the government is also not bothered by the people’s problems, therefore, we have no option but to organise agitations.”
Lyngdoh informed that the ‘sit-in demonstration’ will be held at Mawkyrwat opposite to the Community Health Centre (CHC) from 11 am to 3 pm.
He also said that the KSU has called upon other NGOs, village authorities and the common people from within the district to participate in the agitation along with placards to protest against the irresponsibility and inability of the government to solve the problems faced by the people of the district.
Lyngdoh informed that the union has turned its attention to agitation since the government has failed to redress their grievances.
Despite meeting the Director of Health Services (MI) from time-to-time regarding the appointment of a permanent DM&HO, to which he admitted that department functioned poorly due to the absence of an official, no steps were taken by the concerned authorities.