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Meghalaya : Garo students back on protest path |
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The impasse over restructuring school education in Meghalaya looks far from over with the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) launching another phase of six-day non-cooperation movement. The decision to launch the movement was taken during a public rally at the Chandmari playground in Tura town on November 16.
The GSU has been campaigning against the Government’s decision to amend the Meghalaya Board of School Education Act, 1973, and revamp the organisation on the lines of the recommendations of the state-level committee.
The special committee which was set up by the government in August to suggest measures to revamp the board, had in its report recommended creation of the post of a full-fledged chairman of the board in Tura with a regional office in Shillong under the supervision of a director.
The GSU had refused to accept the committee’s recommendations, especially on setting up a regional office in Shillong. The School Education Board operates from Tura, in West Garo Hills district, and the GSU sees the government’s move as an attempt to bifurcate it to placate Khasi organisations.
The public rally in Tura was attended by thousands of Garos, including members of the Achik Youth Cultural Organisation, Federation of Achik Freedom and Joint Action Committee of Garo Hills. Another rally at the same venue on September 30 had led to police firing in which nine persons were killed.
GSU president Andreas Sangma said later that “a unanimous decision” was taken to launch the non-cooperation movement and pressure the Government to revoke its decision to amend the School Education Board Act. “We will continue the movement if the Government does not accede to our demand to maintain status quo on the issue.”
On the proposed talks between his organisation and the forum of 24 MLAs from the Garo Hills, Sangma said: “The door is always open for talks, provided the MLAs decide on a particular date and time.”
The 24 MLAs recently formed the Garo Hills Legislators‘ Forum to initiate talks with the GSU on the school education controversy. The GSU has been demanding the resignation of all these MLAs from the Assembly in protest against the Government‘s stand.
Reports say life in the Garo hills has been severely affected by the latest dawn-to-dusk non-cooperation movement called by the Garo Students Union. The GSU’s third phase of non-cooperation (5 am to 4 pm), began on Nov. 17. The weekend has, however, been spared, so the agitation will end on Monday.
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