Shillong, Aug 20: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) led by its acting chairman Balkarin Ch. Marak met Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram at his office in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Along with Balkarin Ch. Marak, Chevibirth Koknal (Publicity Secretary), Tony Balsam Ch. Marak (Assistant General Secretary), Amresh Ch. Marak (Executive Member), Jason Tekrang (Organising Secretary) and other representatives of the organisation was present during the meeting.

During the meeting, the Committee formally submitted a memorandum seeking the creation of a separate State of Garoland under Article 3 of the Constitution of India, which empowers Parliament to form new States and reorganize existing State boundaries.

The memorandum emphasized that the demand for Garoland is historic and longstanding, dating back to 1895, when Late Matgrik Sonaram R. Sangma, a patriotic Garo leader, first raised the cause for a separate homeland during the British regime well before India’s Independence Movement under Mahatma Gandhi.

The cause was later carried forward by Late Mody K. Marak and Late Emonsing M. Sangma, who sought the unification of Garo-inhabited areas in Assam (Goalpara and Kamrup) and the Mymensingh region (now in Bangladesh) within the Indian Union.

In addition to the demand for statehood, the memorandum highlighted several pressing issues requiring urgent redressal:

Salary Crisis in GHADC – Salaries of employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) have remained unpaid for 43 months, causing severe hardship and crippling the Council’s ability to discharge its constitutional duties under the Sixth Schedule.

Construction of a GHADC MDCs’ Session Hall to facilitate effective legislative functioning.

Construction of a GHADC Administrative Complex to house the Council’s administrative machinery.

Cultural Recognition – Grant of National Festival Status to the Wangala Festival, to ensure annual nationwide recognition of the traditional harvest festival of the Garo people.

Preservation of Traditional Institutions – Construction of Nokpantes (Bachelor’s Dormitories) for each of the twelve Garo sub-tribes, to preserve and promote this historic and culturally significant institution.

The Union minister assured the Committee that the matters raised would be carefully examined and considered in accordance with constitutional provisions and due procedure.

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