RONGJENG, March 5: Residents of Rongjeng in East Garo Hills (EGH), led by the NGOs of the area, on Saturday, held a meeting at the Rongjeng playground before holding a rally to protest against the alleged shoddy work being done on the upcoming Model College in the village.
The protest was led by the GSU, FKJGP, ASWA, AAYF, GSMC and ASCOR of the same village.
The Rongjeng Model College project is apparently being constructed at a cost of over Rs 12 crore and was started in the year 2019. However, COVID hit the progress of the project leading to a delay in finishing it. But what has angered locals is the change in the project without any notification as well as what they said was the extremely poor quality of construction.
The project is being done under a centrally sponsored scheme, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and was given to Rakesh Sangma, the MDC of Babelapara.
“We cannot see 50 years of our hard work in demanding a college for our area go to waste like this. It is extremely sad that despite so many complaints and requests for an answer to why the College is being neglected this way, we have just been turned a deaf ear by all the state authorities,” said former MDC of Rongjeng, Mettrinson G Momin, during the meeting today.
He blamed the current NPP led government for the neglect shown while adding that the project was passed by the previous government led by Mukul Sangma. “We are meeting today to continue our protest over the poor construction of the upcoming college and the change in the entire structure without any form of notification. If a building can change mid way without any approval from anywhere it only points to corruption and mismanagement,” said GSU president, Rattu Sangma.
He added that they had obtained an RTI seeking answers but were not provided any concrete information.
“We had even asked if there was any notification of change in the DPR which clearly stated that there was none. If that is the case, who allowed for the DPR to be changed completely, if there was no approval? We have been asking for a clarification on the matter but so far our requests have gone unanswered,” added secretary of ASWA, Tuesbrial Marak.
The NGOs had earlier even gone to Shillong to meet the education minister, Lahkmen Rymbui but were disappointed by their visit as the minister, despite providing them an appointment at 4 PM only met them at 7 PM.
“When he met us, he informed us that most of these projects were changed but refused to answer on what authority the changes were made. We left feeling absolutely disappointed and that is when we decided to meet the people of our place to press the matter forward. We cannot be denied our rights at the whims of people in power this way,” added a resident, Rickchy Sangma.
The NGOs added that they had initially informed of the poor construction of the college even while the foundation was being laid. Similar complaints on the poor construction were made last year and again the past month after which the Deputy Commissioner of EGH, Swapnil Tembe, himself came to inspect the project, finding lapses that needed to be rectified. He had promised the locals then of action to see the project completed properly though ever since no other changes have been seen in the situation.
“This College has been the dream of people of the Rongjeng area and will cater to a huge number of people from areas that are remote and families extremely poor. It will be a boon as it also has hostel facilities. We expect it to change the education scenario in our C&RD Block. It has to be taken seriously and completed as per the DPR,” asserted Rickchy.
The NGOs promised to continue their agitations until their voices are heard and will next sit in a demonstration in the C&RD offices of the Block on Wednesday, Mar 9 before going on for more protests until their demands are met.
During the rally, the protesters shouted slogans against the CM, Conrad Sangmam education minister, Rymbui while also voicing out against the local MLA, Jim Sangma for failing to rectify the project.