TURA, July 22: On the 13th day of their hunger strike and led by a support that has been growing on a daily basis, the Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) called upon Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to demonstrate political will in the long-standing demand to declare Tura as the Winter Capital and take decisive action to address the backlog policy in the state.
“There is a need for a balanced focus on both the western and eastern regions of Meghalaya. For decades, the Winter Capital demand has been a contentious issue, with many arguing that it would help address the developmental disparities between the regions and ensure better governance,” felt adviser, Labenn Ch Marak.
He added that the CM should look beyond mere administrative convenience and take into account the genuine concerns of the people in the western region as the declaration of Tura as the Winter Capital will not only boost development but also foster a sense of inclusion and equal representation.
“This approach will ensure that policy decisions and developmental initiatives are dispersed more evenly, avoiding the concentration of resources in a single region. There is a big distance between Shillong and Tura and is one of the major issues that the western part of Meghalaya faces in all aspects of office work,” he added.
On the question of clearing the backlog in jobs, ACHIK said the move would alleviate the marginalisation of the Garo community which, they asserted have been deprived over the past 50 years.
“It is of paramount importance to implement the backlog policy in a time-bound manner. The state must take proactive steps to uplift communities that have suffered from years of neglect and economic disparities and heal the wounds of the past,” said Marak.
On the CM’s non-committal response to their protest, the former MCS officer felt that importance of the demands needed to be addressed that could review the implications and possibilities.
“We understand logistical complications in these issues and we also would like to ask the government to carefully evaluate the feasibility of declaring Tura as the Winter Capital and work towards a more equitable Meghalaya. Our hopes for a more inclusive and equitable Meghalaya remain high,” he said.
