SHILLONG, Oct 27: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) central executive committee will organise a public rally-cum-meeting on Friday to raise the issue of unemployment problem in the state.
The rally that will start from Motphran and culminate at Madan Iewrynghep (Fire Brigade) will be followed by the public meeting at around 2 pm.
The leaders of Khasi Students’ Union, Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front and Jaintia Students’ Union are expected to attend the programme.
FKJGP president Dundee Cliff Khongsit said the rally will pass through Police Bazar, IGP, Barik, Malki, Dhankheti and St. Edmund’s road before culminating at Madan Iewrynghep. He was hopeful not less than 2,000 people, especially youth, will take part in it.
According to him, the rally is only the beginning and the federation will continue with its effort to reach out to the unemployed youth.
“We will create a platform to help the youth when it is about applying to vacant posts in various government departments. We are not promising any jobs but we will try to ensure that the deserving candidates get the jobs,” Khongsit said.
He said it is unjustified that only people with political connections will get the jobs in the government sector.
At the same time, he said the federation will encourage the youth to look beyond government jobs.
The federation will set up a youth grievances cell which will be responsible for organising programmes to help the youth keen on starting their own business, Khongsit said.
He said the federation’s bid to deal with the unemployment problem got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FKJGP Garo Hills Zone urged the youth residing in and around Shillong to take part in the public rally.
“We have taken note of the failure of the state government in taking positive steps to increase employment for the youth of the state which is negatively affecting the productivity of our youth and driving many of them towards unethical ways and means for earning a living,” FKJGP Garo Hills zone president Pritam Marak said in a statement.
He lamented that the youth, who are the future of any society, are not being provided with sufficient opportunities to hone their talents and “earn their rightful place” in the society. He said it is imperative the youth demand what rightfully belongs to them but has been denied.
The rally-cum-public meeting is a testament that the youth will not hold back anymore if any government or governments fail to provide what they rightfully deserve, he said.
“The FKJGP Garo Hills Zone would also like to inform that similar demonstrations will be held in different parts of Garo Hills in later dates unless and until the government gives our youth better employment opportunities, which we feel is long overdue,” the statement added.
