The rally was attended by the traditional village heads, Nokmas, Laskars and also non- governmental organisations
Shillong : A rally was organised by a supporters on April 15 in Williamnagar demanding that the elected representatives of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly adopt a resolution to bifurcate the state so that the dream of Garoland is fulfilled.
Addressing the rally which drew large crowd, Nikman Ch Marak, the popular leader of the Garoland State Movement Committee, said the rally shows the aspirations of the people of the Garo Hills Region which has remained vastly under-developed and lacking in every aspect of Human Development Indices.
The rally was attended by the traditional village heads, Nokmas, Laskars and also non- governmental organisations.
It should be noted that the demand for separate statehood is decades old. After the Khasis, the Garos are the second largest tribe and mainly inhabit in the Garo Hills, Khasi Hills and the Re-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. The Garos are demanding a separate state for the past two decades. The uneven distribution of resources as compared to the Khasi and Jaintia dominated eastern parts of the state has led to demands for Garoland.
Earlier, in 2014 the Meghalaya State Assembly had rejected the demand for resolution of a separate state of Garoland. The movement continues to gather steam with more people venting their frustration against the State Administration.