SHILLONG, DEC 12: Assam-based Khasi organisations are demanding creation of “Barak Valley Khasi-Jaintia Development Council” from the Assam government to look after the socio-economic development of the Khasi-Jaintia community living in Assam.
Airing their demand leaders of three Assam based Khasi organizations said during a news conference in Shillong Wednesday, “We want the council to be set for providing maximum participation of the Khasi-Jaintia people to represent the community within the framework of the constitution of India for socio-economic, educational, ethnic advancement and cultural protection of identity.”
The three organizations namely Barak Valley Khasi-Jaintia Dev Council Demand Committee, Assam (BVKJDCDCA), Barak Valley Khasi-Jaintia Welfare Organization (BVKJWO) and Khasi Student’s Union, Barak Valley Circle (KSU-BVC) have already submitted a joint memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi placing their demand before the Assam government.
The Khasi-Jaintia population in 300 villages of Barak Valley in Assam that includes Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and other districts of Assam is estimated at around 2.5 lakhs.
Highlighting the grievances of the Khasi-Jaintia population living in Assam, KSU-BVC vice president Comely Gassah said, “The Khasi villagers living in the entire valley are still being neglected and deprived of development and basic amenities.”
Elaborating on the deprivation Gassah said most of the Khasi villages are without proper living condition as almost all means of public amenities like pure drinking water supply, schools, roads connectivity, transport facilities, medical facilities and job opportunities in government departments are almost non-existent.
Gassah informed not even 5 per cent of the total Khasi-Jaintia population in Assam is employed in government across the districts.”
Buttering his argument for a separate council, Gassah said the community do not reap any benefit from the Assam government fund allocation for the scheduled tribe communities as he said the non-recognition and total denial of Schedule Tribe status to the Khasi-Jaintia community in Assam has led to discrimination against them depriving them of the privileges and the fundamental rights due to them as schedule tribe.
Seeking the intervention of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) of Meghalaya to take up the matter with the Meghalaya government so that the Assam government is pursued, Gassah said, “We demand the state government of Assam to address the grievances of the Khasi-Jaintia people of Assam at the earliest.”-By Our Reporter
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