The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday has agreed to include Garo language in the list of languages demanding 8th schedule inclusion.
A member delegation led by Tura MP and former Union MoS, Agatha K Sangma on Friday met the secretary and officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in regards to the long pending demand for inclusion of Garo language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
This was done, after Garo language was excluded from the 38 languages to be reviewed for inclusion in the 8th Schedule notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),
Agatha was accompanied by Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma, cabinet minister Marcuise N Marak and president of the A’chik Literature Society (Garo), Dr Caroline R Marak.
The MHA officials were apprised of the matter and assured the delegation that Garo languages will be included in the list of demands.
Agatha Sangma said, “There has been a public demand to include Garo language in the Eighth Schedule. The MHA officials have agreed to include Garo in the official waitlist of languages based on the request of the delegation, this paves the way for Eighth Schedule inclusion.”
Thomas A Sangma emphasized the significance of their discussion with the Home Secretary and his officials at the North Block, New Delhi, stating, “We had a fruitful discussion regarding the inclusion of the Garo Language in the list of demands for recognition under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.”
In September 2018, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Central Government to include both Garo and Khasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This recent meeting marks a critical step forward in fulfilling this long-standing demand.
Garo is spoken in five districts of Meghalaya, as well as in certain regions of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills where a substantial population of Garos resides. Currently, there are 22 languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
This endeavor signifies a significant development in the preservation and recognition of linguistic diversity in the state, a cause that has garnered considerable attention and support.