TURA: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday met with the A’chik Literary Society in Tura to discuss the government’s recent decision to include Khasi and Garo as official languages of the State alongside English.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister described the decision as a historic milestone aimed at recognising and promoting the rich linguistic heritage of Meghalaya. He noted that while the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had earlier passed a resolution seeking inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, the latest move sends a strong message on the importance of advancing local languages at all levels.
“For many years, there has been a demand from the people to include Khasi and Garo as official languages of the State, and I am happy to share that this decision has now been taken by the Cabinet,” he said.
Sangma emphasised that although the complete integration of these languages into government communication, administration, and examinations would take time, the process has now been formally initiated.
He further indicated that legislative proceedings would gradually incorporate the use of Khasi and Garo, adding that it would be appropriate for debates in the upcoming Autumn Session to be conducted in these languages at the new Assembly building.
Seeking active collaboration, the Chief Minister called on the A’chik Literary Society to assist in drafting the necessary rules and frameworks for effective implementation. He stressed that stakeholder support would be crucial to ensure the policy achieves its intended impact and further strengthens the case for inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule.
The Chief Minister also lauded the A’chik Literary Society for its sustained efforts in preserving and promoting the Garo language through literary contributions, acknowledging the organisation’s role in advancing the language movement.
Members of the Society welcomed the government’s decision and reaffirmed their commitment to continue working towards the growth and development of the Garo language.
