United Democratic Party (UDP) MLA from Mowkaiaw constituency Nujorki Sungoh today raised the issue related to boycott of the district council election at Mukroh, during the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Assembly.
Taking up the issue during the call attention motion, Sungoh reminded the house that on January 9 this year, the people in Mukroh resolved to boycott the district council election to protest against the suppression they faced from the state of Assam.
He said the border outpost at Mukroh has not helped them at all and blamed the government’s inaction on the matter.
He, however, expressed thankfulness to the district administration of West Jaintia Hills, who was able to convince the residents that another border outpost was on the offing, and the villagers called off the boycott.
He said Mukroh village, with over 600 households, is still very backward, and there is an urgent need to bring development activities like construction of internal roads, building of secondary schools and electrification of the area.
The UDP legislator pointed out to the fact that Lumpalang village is yet to get electricity.
He also reminded the assurance of the West Jaintia Hills district administration of the setting up of another border outpost.
Sungoh also said that if Laskein Block is upgraded to a Civil Sub Division most of the problems that the people in the region faced will be resolved as the administration will be closer to the public.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Prestone Tynsong, in his reply said that the district administration of West Jaintia Hills including the police department are working tirelessly in ensuring peace and tranquility in the area.
Tynsong also informed the House that the government has sanctioned a number of border outposts and it remains committed to protecting the rights and security of border residents.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the government is committed to ensure that the interstate boundary and the villages along the interstate border earn their livelihood and go about their actual day-to-day activities.