Garo NGOs from Assam met in Dudhnoi to discuss Garo community issues, with a focus on the ongoing amalgamation and shifting of Garo medium schools, as well as the people’s ongoing problems due to the border situation.
The meeting also aimed to highlight the issues of the people of the Hojai district who were evicted by the state government.
Several Assam-based Garo non-governmental organisations (NGOs) attended the meeting, including the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Garo National Council (GNC), Garo National Union (GNU), Inter State Border Association, Achik Socialist Youth Front of India (ASYFI), Garo Sahitya Sabha (GSS), All Garo Gaonbura Association (AGGA), and Dudhnoi College Garo Students’ Union (DCGSU).
The NGOs objected to the Assam government’s decision to merge or relocate Garo medium schools to other schools, calling the move unacceptable to the community.
“We have resolved to oppose the move and urge the government to withdraw it. The status of these schools (LP and ME) should be left as it was before. The move seems an attempt to abolish all schools and teacher posts in these schools for the Garo community,” the groups stated in a press release.
The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) urged political parties not to politicise the issue of the inter-state readjustment of boundaries between Assam and Meghalaya.
They added, “There should not be any conflict between or among the Garo people themselves as to which side they should remain. No individual or a family should be forced or harassed on the issue. We urge leaders not to instigate the villagers living in the border areas with the bad intention of bringing inter village enmity or misunderstanding.”
Concerning the people from their community who were evicted by the government in the Hojai district, the NGOs felt the government should take responsibility and expedite the rehabilitation process.
“Those evicted from Paglabasti and Dekabasti under Hojai need to be rehabilitated on an urgent basis and the government needs to take responsibility for it as they all belong to our community,” they added.