SHILLONG, July 24: The demand to make Tura the “Winter Capital” of Meghalaya has sparked similar demands from the Jaintia Hills.
First, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council Jaintia Hills unit asked the state government to designate Jowai as the “Autumn Capital” of Meghalaya. This was followed by the demand for a “Summer Capital” by the Jaintia Students’ Union.
Now, the Jaintia Students Movement (JSM) has demanded setting up of a “Spring Capital” in Jowai.
In a letter mailed to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, JSM president Leningstar Rymbai on Monday said they had an online discussion on the demand of a “Winter Capital” in Tura by fellow social organisations in Garo Hills and resolved to demand a “Spring Capital” in Jowai.
“We feel our demand is justified in view of the fact that Meghalaya is divided into three regions — Khasi Hills, Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills,” the JSM president said, adding that three autonomous district councils were constituted for each of the three major tribes.
“The spring season marks the commencement of a new financial year and before the NGT ban on rat-hole mining, the Jaintia Hills region contributed immensely to the state’s treasury from the royalty collected from coal,” Rymbai said while adding that the under-construction Mini Secretariat at Ladthadlaboh, Jowai, should be upgraded to a full-fledged Secretariat.
