The Meghalaya government has not shelved the Garo Labour Corps Cenotaph renovation project, only temporarily halted activities to allow for a broader consultation process, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma stated today.
The monument was demolished and critics complained that stakeholders had not been taken into confidence. They also claimed that the site would be commercialised, which would take away from its significance. The government’s move to renovate the site began in 2023 when news reports emerged of the area being used for anti-social activity. The CM then visited the site and pledged Rs 2 crore for the renovation of the monument.
In response to concerns from various civil society groups, politicians and pressure groups in Garo Hills, the government has decided to form a state-level committee that will not only look into the proposed renovation of the World War I memorial but also explore the larger historical and cultural legacy of the Garo Labour Corps, which were among the British Empire forces that served in Europe and the Middle East.
“The committee is not just about the memorial. We are looking at the wider history, documentation and cultural significance of the Garo Labour Corps, including data and information that may be available in France and elsewhere,” Sangma said.
The committee is chaired by cabinet minister Marcuise Marak and comprises members from both the government and civil society. Its mandate includes examining all aspects of the memorial project, including its design, and recommending the best way forward.
“In the interim, we have asked that all activities related to the renovation be stopped until the committee meets and holds deliberations. This meeting is likely to take place around April 14 or 15,” Sangma informed.
He further stated that the intent behind the renovation was to honour and preserve the memory of the Garo Labour Corps, a history that, according to him, had largely been forgotten.
