Tura, Nov. 27: Civil organisations here today pitched for the inclusion of Garo language in the Eighth Schedule.
They said this would be a boon for the people of Garo hills and also benefit the Garos living in Meghalaya, Assam, Bengal, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
"The right of language is a basic cultural right and linked with the economy, culture, social system and political rights of a people," said Balrang Raka Ch. Momin, additional general secretary of Garo Students Union (GSU), in a release issued by a conglomeration of organisations.
The organisations, which had also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday, include the GSU, Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People, Association for Democracy and Empowerment and the A'chik Youth Welfare Organisation.
The release said Garo is a regional language spoken in a well-defined area and the Garos have been striving hard to uplift it.
"The government's support for inclusion of Garo language in the Eighth Schedule is necessary for the prosperity of Garo people and the security and promotion of our language, culture, identity and dignity," it added.
According to the 2011 census, over 12 lakh Garos live in Garo hills, about 1.5 lakh in Khasi-Jaintia hills and around 8 lakh in Assam, mostly in Goalpara and Kamrup districts. The release said at least 20 lakh Garos reside in India.
"If the Garo language is included in the Eighth Schedule, Garos can write the language in the UPSC examination. Language is not only a medium of communication but also reflects the history, culture, relationship, system of governance, ecology, religion and politics of a people," the release said.
It alleged that successive governments at the Centre and the state have neglected the aspirations of the Garos. "If the government of India sincerely wants to unite and strengthen the country, including the peace-loving and vulnerable communities of Garo hills, it should not hesitate to include the Garo language in the Eighth Schedule, so that the people in Garo hills can be proud of their language," the release said.
