SHILLONG: KHADC MDCs, both from the ruling and opposition parties, along with traditional heads and experts on Khasi language have decided to constitute a joint committee to pressurize the State Government to direct the Meghalaya Board Of School Education (MBOSE) to revoke its notification on making Khasi (MIL) as a compulsory elective subject.
The decision was taken during a meeting convened by the KHADC Executive Committee which was attended by the MDCs, traditional heads and stakeholders among others, at Jaiaw Shyiap-Lumpyllon Community Hall here on Saturday.
The joint committee will be headed by KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum as the Chairperson while an officer of the KHADC will be the member secretary.
The members of the committee will have MDCs from both the ruling and opposition parties and two representatives each from the traditional bodies and experts on Khasi language.
“We have decided to write to the Government and the Board with the demand to immediately withdraw the notification,” Nongrum told reporters after the meeting.
The MBOSE had, on Sept 5 last, come up with the notification allowing students a choice of taking Khasi (MIL) as an elective subject as part of its proposal to change the existing structure and scheme of studies at the HSSLC level. Earlier, English and MIL/Alternative English were compulsory subjects at the HSSLC level.
Meanwhile, in the meeting, it was also resolved to strengthen the lobby in New Delhi for inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Citing the case of Bodo language, which is already listed in the Eighth Schedule, Nongrum said, “Bodo people are yet to get their own state, but their language is already recognized and has found space in the Constitution. Therefore, we should strengthen our fight for the recognition of Khasi as an official language.”
Earlier, during the meeting the participants deliberated upon the need to have a complete map of Khasi Hills.
“We have asked the Khasi States to submit their maps to the Council based on historical records right from the British era to the days when we were still under the composite state of Assam. However, we will have to look carefully into those areas, which are under dispute with Assam,” Nongrum said.
He said that the KHADC would hold meetings with various stakeholders to discuss the issue of having a complete map of Khasi Hills region.
