KSU stages sit-in-protest against govt’s failure to upgrade Mawsynram block to a civil subdivision

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 4, 2024

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) on Friday organized a sit-in-demonstration demanding the immedate upgradation of Mawsynram C&RD block to a full-fledged Civil Sub-Division.

Activists of the KSU Sawsymper circle, Balat border area and Lawbah border area circle took active part in the protest held at Malki ground, here. 

“No Mawsynram Civil Sub-division, no rest” – read one of the banners displayed at the protest venue.

Speaking to reporters, KSU South West Khasi Hills president Forwardman Nongrem said, “We have organized the sit-in-demonstration to protest against the state government’s attitude towards the long pending demand of the people of Mawsyram for upgrading the block to a full-fledged civil sub-division.”

He said time and again, the union had also met the state government but there has been no concrete action taken to fulfill this demand made for the past 24 years since 2000.

“The state government has just promised the people of Mawsynram to implement the demand without fulfilling it. Due to this, we are compelled to come out and stage this protest here in Shillong to pressurize the government to consider creation of a civil sub-division for Mawsynram,”he said.

Further, Nongrem said that Mawsynram block shouold be upgraded to a civil sub-division based on its population. The block has been created 62 years ago. 

“In 2022, the government had upgraded few C&RD blocks – at Dalu, Rongjeng and Jengjal. If you look at their population, it is more or less the same like Mawsynram, which has a population of 50,000 as per 2011 census. After a lapse of 12-13 years, we expect the population now may have crossed 60000-70000,” he said. 

“Moreover, the distance of Dalu from Tura is just 30-32 kms but the distance from Mawsynram to Shillong is 69kms and from its border areas to the state capital, the distance would cross 100 kms,” Nongrem added. 

The KSU leader also reminded the commitment of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to bring administration closer to the people and said, “However, it is sad to note that there is total lack of seriousness on the part of the state government to really live upto this commitment by failing to consider upgrading Mawsynram block to a full-fledged civil sub-division even.”

“Therefore, we have decided to take other steps to pressurize the state government to fulfill this long pending demand of the people of Mawsynram at the earliest,” he added.