Shillong, Sept. 14: Defying the state government’s decision to ban bandhs and agitation, non-governmental organisations in Garo hills began an indefinite non-cooperation movement from today to protest against the government’s approval of the state-level committee recommendations on the Meghalaya Board of School Education.

The committee had recommended creation of a post of the executive chairman for the Meghalaya Board of School Education at Tura with a regional office at Shillong to cater to the needs of the student community of Khasi and Janitia Hills.

It also recommended creation of posts of directors and officers of the same rank to head the four wings ? administration, academic, finance and examinations ? at Tura.

The recommendations were, however, rejected by the Garo NGOs, which decided to support the indefinite “dawn to dusk” non-cooperation movement has been called by the Garo Students’ Union (GSU).

Following the bandh call yesterday, the state government said it would impose the Supreme Court’s ban on bandhs and all other forms of agitation which have the potential to cause public disorder in the state.

The deputy commissioners of the three districts of the Garo hills have already been ordered to prevent any attempts to organise bandhs.

Last week, the Gauhati High Court, in response to a public interest litigation filed by the chief executive member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, H.S. Shylla, directed the Meghalaya government to abide by the Supreme Court order prohibiting bandhs and all forms of agitation which disrupted public life.

In spite of the ban, the dawn-to-dusk non-cooperation movement affected normal life in the Garo hills. Educational institutions, banks, shops and business establishments and even state government offices remained closed. Vehicles remained off the road.

President of the Garo Students’ Union (East Khasi Hills zone) T.R. Marak, threatened that if the government did not respond to their demands, the non-cooperation movement would spread to Ri Bhoi district and parts of Assam.

The Garo Hills Citizen’s Forum has written to governor M.M. Jacob, requesting him to prevent any attempt by the government to pass an ordinance to amend the Meghalaya Board of School Education Act.

.S. Marak, general secretary of Forum, said, “We have asked the governor to impose President’s rule in the state to control the lawlessness which the government has failed to do anything about”.