Mawsynram MLA Himalaya Shangpliang today raised the issue of Sakhri, which was highlighted by Highland Post recently (East Jaiñtia village left ailing, no one to help, February 22), in the Assembly today.
Shangpliang informed his legislative colleagues that Sakhri, under Narpuh Elaka, was issued a sanad by the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) in 2016 but has no motorable road, does not receive supplies of rice, sugar and kerosene under the Public Distribution System, is not connected to the electricity grid and does not have a supply of potable water.
According to Shangpliang the main economic activity of the villagers is betel nut and betel leaf cultivation.
“Through MGNREGS (the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) the villagers expected to secure a livelihood but they received their first jobs only in 2020,” the Congress legislator said.
Shangpliang also informed that pregnant women have to go to Sonapur Sub-Centre, which is 7 kilometres from Sakhri, for treatment.
This is just one example of many villages that have been neglected by successive governments since Meghalaya achieved statehood in 1972.
“Some prefer to be part of Bangladesh. This sense of alienation is not good,” Shangpliang stated.
In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that provision of water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission could not be taken up because Sakhri came into existence after the 2011 census.
