TURA, Aug 7: Garo NGOs from Assam met in the town of Dudhnoi to discuss issues related to the Garo community with a focus on the ongoing amalgamation and shifting of Garo medium schools as well as the ongoing problems of the people due to the border situation.
The meeting also sought to highlight the issues of the problems of the people of the community in Hojai district who were evicted by the state government.
The meeting was attended by various Assam-based Garo NGOs including the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Garo National Council (GNC), Garo National Union (GNU), Inter State Border Association, Achik Socialist Youth Front of India (ASYFI), Garo Sahitya Sabha (GSS), All Garo Gaonbura Association (AGGA), Dudhnoi College Garo Students’ Union (DCGSU) among others.
The NGOs objected to the move of the Assam government to amalgamate or shift Garo medium schools into other schools calling the move unacceptable to the community.
“We have resolved to oppose the move and urge the government to withdraw it. The status of these schools (LP and ME) should be left as it was before. The move seems an attempt to abolish all schools and teacher posts in these schools for the Garo community,” stated the groups through a release.
On the issue that has emerged on the issue of the inter-state readjustment of boundaries between Assam and Meghalaya, the NGOs urged political parties to not politicise the matter.
“There should not be any conflict between or among the Garo people themselves as to which side they should remain. No individual or a family should be forced or harassed on the issue. We urge leaders not to instigate the villagers living in the border areas with bad intention of bringing inter village enmity or misunderstanding,” they added.
On the issue of the people from their community who were evicted by the government on Hojai district, the NGOs felt the government needed to take responsibility and speed up the rehabilitation process.
“Those evicted from Paglabasti and Dekabasti under Hojai need to be rehabilitated on an urgent basis and the government needs to take responsibility for it as they all belong to our community,” they added.
