From Our Correspondent
MANGSANG (East Garo Hills), Sep 3: Led by the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) – Mangsang regional unit and the local FKJGP body and the Block Demand Committee, residents of Mangsang on Wednesday held a rally to demand for a separate C&RD Block for their area.
The rally followed a meeting that took place at the Bamil Government LP School premises and also saw the presence of the local MDC, Henen R Sangma of the NPP, who came forward to talk of the progress that has been made in the demand for a C&RD Block.
The Mangsang area has a total of 55 VECs and a population of over 25,000 across the varied terrain that the area provides. Many places are still difficult to reach with roads infrastructure being one of the major issues faced.
The long-pending completion of the Adokgre-Mangsang-Rongjeng road, which began in the year 2017 and continues to remain incomplete, was also a part of the demand put forward by the rally-goers this morning.
The demand for a new C&RD Block for the area grew after Rongjeng became a fill fledged sub – division in the district.
The rallyists not only sought a new C&RD Block but also demanded the up-gradation of the PHC to a CHC, the local police outpost to a full-fledged police station as well as the offices of the fire brigade.
The meeting this morning began at 11:30 am with residents coming forward in numbers despite the inclement weather, in a show of solidarity to the demand.
Sengwil Sangma, the organising secretary of the demand committee, informed those present that they had met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on four occasions, along with the local MLA Jim Sangma and the MDC to push their demand. While the CM did not completely accede to the demand, he said they were 75% on the way to getting a new C&RD Block for the area.
MDC Henen, during his address, stated that he held conversations over the demand in the presence of the MLA with the CM after Rongjeng was made a sub division and reaffirmed the developments asserted by the Demand Committee. He stated that for that to happen, everyone needed to come forward and support the demand.
GSU president Barnawel Sangma, while speaking to the media after the rally, stated that the demand for a C&RD Block has been a long-pending aspiration of the people as were the other demands.
“Our area is huge and the terrain is unforgiving. Getting to Rongjeng from some of these villages takes an entire day. Further we have a burgeoning population which increased substantially over the years. There are other C&RD Blocks that have been made with a smaller population and smaller area in the region and our request for a new C&RD Block is justified,” said Barnawel.
He added that a Block could go a long way in alleviating the problems being faced by the people of the region.
“It will bring administration closer to the people and also ensure people get delivery of services faster. It will also boost rural infrastructure and development. Further it will create better opportunities for health, education and livelihood while strengthening the government’s vision of inclusive growth in rural Meghalaya,” he added.