SHILLONG, AUG 24: A delegation of the 70 activists of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) today arrived in the state capital after completing their 93-km-long march from Nongstoin in protest against the state government’s apathy towards the West Khasi Hills region.
The activists, who took three days to complete the protest march after a taking up the daring journey by walking around 28 hours under a theme – “We give you our today for your better tomorrow”, entered the city after a 7 hour walk from Mawngap, 25 km from hour.
However, one of the activists identified as Oliverwest Marngar was admitted in a city hospital after his health condition deteriorated on reaching 3rd Mile in Upper Shillong.
Soon after their arrival, they staged a sit-in-demonstration at the parking lot near the additional secretariat here even as they submitted a memorandum to the chief minister Mukul Sangma for necessary intervention into the various demands.
Earlier, the activists of the HYC, which has been demanding implementation of 14-point of demands which include the Inner Line Permit (ILP) for checking influx into the state, also shouted slogans as the CM’s official vehicle was heading towards Mawphlang village.
Speaking to reporters, HYC Nongstoin Circle president Lumlang Kharsyntiew said that they have decided to stage the march as a mark of protest against the state government’s negligence towards the district and its refusal to implement strong anti-influx laws.
“We have submitted several memorandums on this regards and have even sought appointment with the CM for at least seven times since January this year, but there was no response from his end and hence this march,” he said.
He said that even after 41 years of Nongstoin being designated as a district headquarter, yet it is still lagging behind in all sphere of development compared to other districts be it road connectivity, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and others.
“While the government is adamant to consider the long pending demand for construction of two lane road connecting Nongstoin with Mawkyrwat, but Ampati within just a few span of time after it was created as a new district is getting roads connecting with its headquarters,” he said.
Slamming the former deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh for attempting to fool the people, Kharsyntiew said, “He (Rowell) had stated that the construction of the road from Nongstoin to Nongkhnum, a village famous for its tourist spot, will spoil its beauty. But we want to tell him that he cannot fool the people as the district may lack development but not in education.”
Asked, the HYC-NC president said that they would be compelled to intensify their agitations if the state government fails to pay heed to their demands.
“We want to send a clear message to the state government not to take us lightly otherwise we will take stern action on the matter,” he added.
West Khasi Hills District is one of the oldest districts in the state which was created in the year 1976 with a total population of 383,461 and having an area of 5247 sq km.
Meanwhile, the HYC also demanded the state government to speed up framing the mining plan in view of the ban on coal mining by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which has affected the entire state including West Khasi Hills District.
Kharsyntiew said the Council is strongly opposing the move of the state government to allow the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (MMDC) to take up mining activities in the state.
“Allowing of the MMDC will surely affect the rights of the indigenous people over their land. Therefore the state government should immediately come up with the mining plan to ensure that ban on coal mining is lifted at the earliest,” he said.
Demanding the setting up of a government college in the district headquarter, Kharsyntiew said that the college should also be named after the former legislator of Nongstoin late Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who have contributed a lot to the welfare of the people of the area.
The Council also proposed that a syllabus about the life history of Lyngdoh, who was also the former supremo of the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), should be included in the secondary and higher secondary schools.
While assembling at the parking lot, HYC members also paid attention to a dog that had followed them all the way to Shillong from Mawngap and sat along with the members at the protest venue.
Referring to the animal, HYC vice president, Donboklang Kharlyngdoh, said, “If an animal (dog) has some understanding over the demands of the organization, why you (elected representatives) being leaders not have a heart towards our demands.”
By Our Reporter
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