Mawkjyrwat, October12: The All Khasi Hills Achik Joint Action Committee (AKHAJAC) has urged the Meghalaya government to reconsider its recent decision on language requirements for District Selection Committee (DSC) examinations and introduce both Khasi and Garo language papers in recruitment examinations across all districts of the state.
The demand was raised during a public meeting organised by the committee on Saturday at Puksora village, around 60 kilometres from Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills district, to discuss the difficulties faced by Garo youths seeking government employment through DSC examinations in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AKHAJAC leader John D. Sangma expressed concern over the government’s decision to make Khasi language papers mandatory in DSC examinations conducted in Khasi-Jaintia Hills and Garo language papers in Garo Hills. Sangma claimed that the decision had placed Garo youths residing in Khasi-Jaintia Hills at a disadvantage, particularly those aspiring to secure government jobs through DSC recruitment.
Questioning the government’s policy, Sangma said that since both Khasi and Garo are recognised as official languages of Meghalaya, both languages should be included in DSC examinations throughout the state. “When both Khasi and Garo are recognised as official languages of Meghalaya, why should both languages not be included in all DSC examinations across the state?” he questioned.
Sangma further claimed that the Garo population residing in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region exceeds four lakh, pointing out that many Garo families have been living in the region for generations. “We were born and brought up here in Khasi Hills. Where will our youths go after completing their education? The government must understand this situation and immediately reconsider its decision,” he said.
The AKHAJAC leader also warned the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government that the committee would intensify its agitation if its demand was not addressed. He announced that the organisation would continue organising public meetings in Garo-inhabited villages across Khasi-Jaintia Hills to mobilise support and highlight the concerns of Garo youths seeking government employment. “This is only the beginning. If the government fails to listen to our legitimate demand, we will intensify our agitation,” Sangma warned.
Hundreds of members of the Garo community from Puksora and surrounding villages attended the meeting and expressed their support for the committee’s demand. The meeting at Puksora was the second public gathering organised by AKHAJAC on the issue, following its first meeting held recently at Malangkona village in West Khasi Hills district.
The committee maintained that the state government should adopt an inclusive recruitment policy by allowing both Khasi and Garo language papers in DSC examinations across Meghalaya, ensuring equal opportunities for eligible candidates from both communities, irrespective of their district of residence.
