The public of East Garo Hills are still awaiting the much-heralded Eklavya Model Residential School, the foundation stone of which was unveiled three and a half years ago.
Local units of three pressure groups – FKJGP, GSMC and AHAM – today questioned why the project at Nengkhra has gotten nowhere in all that time.
The foundation stone was revealed by local MLA Marcuise N Marak at a ceremony on March 5, 2019.
Construction has yet to even begin, the NGOs said through a release. The Eklavya Model Residential Schools are an initiative of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to ensure tribal students get access to quality education in remote tribal areas. Every block that has 50 percent tribal population and at least 20,000 tribals in number, is eligible for such a school.
Local FKJGP president Tengkan Momin questioned whether the ceremony in 2019 was merely for show and wondered where the money for the project has gone.
“Such political games must be stopped. In reality, it is not a game but an indicator of a political crisis that brings us a false set of promises,” Momin added.
GSMC leader Tengman Marak said that if the MLA ever comes to campaign in the village again, the pressure groups will return the useless foundation stone he laid.
