Leaders of the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has assured resident of Baikam village located along the Meghalaya-Assam border in East Jaiñtia Hills district that it would pursue with the government on its demand to let the village remain with Meghalaya.
Members of the HYC visited the village yesterday, which falls under Ratacherra sector, one of the six disputed areas that will be taken up for final settlement in March by both the governments.
According to the HYC, the Khasi-Pnar villagers have resided in Baikam since 1960 and desire to remain with Meghalaya.
HYC organising secretary, Francis G. Mawlong in a statement today said that the visit was made following an invitation from the villagers.
Mawlong said that the village with 37 households and a population of 302 lie neglected for years even by the Assam government who claim it to be under its jurisdiction. He said the village lacks basic amenities of drinking water and a health centre.
Located about 160 kms from the NH 6, the village is not connected even though a foundation stone for road was laid in 2016-17, he added. “What is ironic is that a signboard that reads Baikampunji Sub-Centre under Jalalpur BPHC was installed in the house of a villager with no doctors or nurses,” Mawlong said.
Furthermore, though a primary school exists the teaching medium is Bengali even as most of the students speak Pnar, he said.
During the visit, the HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem also held a meeting with the villagers and assured them that they will take up the matter with the State government.
Mawlong further informed that residents of Baikam had also written to the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaiñtia Hills District asking the government not to push them to Assam, which was also sent to the Under Secretary Home (Political) Department, on August 22.
