TURA, April 21: The recent loss of lives on Easter Monday in Garo Hills due to revelry taking a wrong turn on Thursday necessitated an emergency meeting during which mechanisms aplenty were put forth to avert recurrence of similar events in future.
The recent incidents of drowning and other mishaps during Easter Monday celebrations, which led to the deaths of around seven young lives in different parts of Garo Hills, has served as a wake-up call to both the citizenry and the administrative machinery.
Concerned with the untimely loss of young lives, West Garo Hills District Administration, in collaboration with the Mothers’ Union, convoked a meeting on Thursday, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, government officials, church leaders, leaders of social organisations, Nokmas, teachers, etc.
The DC informed that the district administration has time and again discouraged revelry and drinking at picnic and tourist spots, and had earlier also called a meeting with various groups in this regard.
Stating that it is the need of the hour to prevent youths from getting indulged in activities that can be perilous, the DC accentuated the need to have infrastructures such as swimming pools and football playgrounds where they can not only spend quality time but also learn sports.
The president of the Mothers’ Union, on the other hand, sought cooperation from all concerned to come together for a better future of the region.
Condemning the videos of revelry that went viral on social media, she also said that the Union is dissatisfied with the facilities available for the youths in Garo Hills.
Some of the suggestions that were placed forth by the church leaders, government officials and village leaders to arrest the cases of revelry in the region were formation of panels to monitor schools and villages, need to check mushrooming of liquor shops, sensitisation of Nokmas and village elders, need to keep kids engaged, etc.
It may be mentioned that at least seven people — Lingkash M Sangma (13), Dreyant Sangma (16) John R Marak (17), Senja D Shira, Diganta Rabha (19), Niksrap Sangma (16) and a three-year-old boy — were killed in separate incidents across Garo Hills on Easter Monday.
