TURA, Dec 1: A delegation of members from Garo Students’ Union (GSU) on Monday held a sit-in outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Ampati, South West Garo Hills, raising a slew of demands.
Holding banners and posters, the GSU members expressed discontent over government failing to take up crucial issues in the district notwithstanding repeated reminders.
During the sit-in, the GSU members sought the construction of a specialised maternity hospital in the district headquarter. It also beseeched the government to put a halt to the export of boulders to Bangladesh through the state highway passing through the district. There were other demands put forward as well during the demonstration.
The students’ body also questioned the logic behind government’s earlier decision to construct the Maternity and Children Hospital in the border town of Mahendraganj. They questioned the government’s decision to construct a massive infrastructure in a remote part of the district.
The Union also demanded of the government to establish the hospital at the district headquarters of Ampati, thereby making it convenient for people who come for treatment from across the region.
“The district headquarters of Ampati is connected to all the areas of the district, is easily accessible and will benefit everyone if the hospital comes up here instead of Mahendraganj, which happens to be a remote border town,” mention student leaders.
The months-long protest calling for a halt to the transportation of boulders from the kingdom of Bhutan to Bangladesh through the state highway in South Garo Hills remains a burning issue.
The frequent overloading and its damage to the roads have been strongly protested by organisations, and the GSU calling for a weigh bridge to be set up at a designated point along the route to stop the overloading. Until the weighbridge is set up, the GSU has exhorted the authorities to cease the boulder transportation.
The students’ union also demanded the upgrade of the Ampati Degree College into a full-fledged government college with adequate departments, lecturers and facilities.
Pointing out that a vast majority of parents depend on Ampati College for higher education of their wards, they said the improvement of the institution would immensely benefit the youths in the district.
The Integrated Farmers Market at Ampati being non-functional has also been questioned by the students’ body.
The members have sought its immediate operation while exhorting the authorities to ensure that fair rent is charged from poor farmers while providing them space to sell their wares.
