The Khasi Authors Society (KAS) said today that the state government has not done enough to push the cause of getting the Khasi language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
KAS President DRL Nonglait told Highland Post that it is “sad” to see that the government has not pursued the matter with New Delhi. Besides meeting Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on the issue, the organisation had sent letters to Meghalaya’s MPs, though with no result in Parliament.
KAS will hold its executive meeting next week and will plan its next course of action.
Advantages of getting into the Eighth Schedule include allowing prospective candidates to sit Union Public Service Commission exams in the Khasi language as well as job opportunities for translators, professors and others.
Nonglait said another important point is that Khasis are seldom entitled to various central academy awards, including grants and funds, because Khasi is not a scheduled language.