The All Meghalaya Minority Students’ Union (AMMSU) today submitted a list of demands for the plain belt of Garo Hills to Power Minister James Sangma over the issues being faced by the people of the area.
According to the NGO, given the situation of floods in the plain belt every year as well as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it requested that electricity bills for farmers working on paddy be waived.
“Their (the farmers’) economic condition is extremely bad and they will need all the help they can get due to the situation with Covid and floods,” said AMMSU President, Nur Islam.
The NGO further noted that the local health facility has already been upgraded from a PHC to a CHC. However, the building’s inauguration is still to be undertaken, which is something it wanted done as soon as possible.
AMMSU further asked for a community and rural development block to be set up at Kashiabari to bring development closer to the people of the area.
The pressure group further sought an embankment to be set up on the Brahmaputra River to relieve the people from devastation wrought by annual floods.
“The two rivers, Brahmaputra and Jinjiram, have been eroding away land at many places, including Phersakandi, Bhotduba, Sarkarpara, Quijani, Balubari and Old Bhaitbari areas. This has resulted in huge losses to property, standing crops, roads and infrastructure. An embankment to protect our lands is urgently required,” the group added.
Other demands included the construction of proper embankment from Rajpur up to Konarchar, infrastructure and facilities to flood-affected schools, sanctioning of an Agriculture Development Office, setting up of Anganwadi centres in all villages as well a Fire Brigade Station at Hallidayganj.
