Tura, Oct 26: In the wake of various social bodies from the state and the Garo Hills region voicing their disappointment over the centre’s silence on the demand for Garo language to be included in the Sixth Schedule, the GSU in South Garo Hills has on Thursday, also rued the seemingly apathetic stand taken on the matter.
“It has come to our knowledge that the proposed inclusion of Garo language in the 8th Schedule is being sidestepped by including only the Khasi language. This notion needs serious reckoning as it would amount to making the Garos insignificant in the state of Meghalaya. Garo language being widely spoken deserves to be included in the 8th Schedule of the constitution,” it said in a statement.
Pointing out that the issue has been a long standing one, the union said that the need for the inclusion of the Garo language was more so, if Khasi was being considered to be included.
Reminding that the state of Meghalaya celebrated its 50 years of existence just recently, it pointed out that the inclusion of a tribe’s language would make it easier in terms of education for that particular community in such a way that coveted exams like UPSC could be written in their own language.
The union also urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to take up the matter with the centre.
