Shillong, Aug. 24: A march by the Hynñiewtrep Youths' Council (HYC) activists to make "the powers that be" heard and consider their series of demands, culminated here today after walking 93km from Nongstoiñ, the district headquarters of the West Khasi Hills.
Around 70 HYC activists took out a march on Tuesday from Nongstoiñ to the state capital Shillong, highlighting various issues pertaining to Nongstoiñ town and West Khasi Hills district, especially lack of development in the district.
The HYC activists took about 27 hours to complete the 93km march all along the national highway (Shillong-Nongstoiñ-Tura Road) and halted on the way for two nights at Mairang and Mawngap.
From Mawngap, they resumed the march this morning which culminated at a parking lot near additional secretariat here at 12.30pm.
However, a member Oliver Twist Marngar fell ill on the way and was admitted to the civil hospital here.
Raising slogans against the Meghalaya government for neglecting the West Khasi Hills district, the activists also asked the government to implement strong laws that can safeguard indigenous Hynñiewtrep people and implement laws like the inner-line permit (ILP) to check influx as they walked on the national highway.
The organisation expressed concern over the failure to resolve the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam.
Created on October 28, 1976, West Khasi Hills district, which will soon complete 41 years, is still one of the backward districts in the state.
The HYC Nongstoiñ circle president, Lumlang Kharsyiemlieh, said Nongstoiñ and West Khasi Hills district, despite 41 years of existence, there were no proper roads that would connect the district with other districts except a two-lane highway connecting the Garo hills region.
Reading out from a memorandum submitted to the chief minister's office here, Kharsyiemlieh said the district has been neglected despite having a number of tourist spots that would boost tourism.
Stating that the district has no other colleges that can cater to students' needs except Nongstoiñ College, the HYC demanded a government college to be named after longest-serving legislator and parliamentarian, late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, to keep his legacy alive for generations to come.
The other demands include creating sport infrastructure, multi-water-harvesting schemes for farmers cultivating rice and other crops, cold storage facility, training for farmers, creating healthcare facilities and a blood bank unit.
The HYC said on the 41st year of district-hood, the government departments in the West Khasi Hills are stilling functioning from rented houses, which showed the state government's casual attitude.
The district did not have a proper hall or auditorium for hosting events.
Commenting on the mining issue, Kharsyiemlieh opposed the state government's move to allow Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation Ltd to take over coal mining in the state.
