Shillong, July 14: The NGO from Garo Hills today has come up in support to the KSU to protest the railway project in Khasi Hills region in Meghalaya, ADE strongly supports the movement and stands in unison with KSU and other NGOs. ADE strongly condemns the high handed stance of the government towards the protesters. This arrogance of the administration can never achieve a fruitful outcome as we all know disagreements can only be resolved through deliberate discussions.
Government should make an effort to realize the real concerns behind the movement. ADE recognizes what revolutionary leapt in transportation could be achieved through this railway connectivity around the state for the common people but ADE also has concerns about the collateral damages these projects could cause to the ethnic people of the state. As a matter of fact the state is now going through a very critical phase of ethnicity crisis due to heavy influx especially along the border areas.
The real question is not about the Railway Projects but the heavy influx problem of the state. ADE with other NGOs is fighting for a comprehensive mechanism to check influx, like the Inner Line Permit (ILP), for a very long time. In the previous years, we had several rounds of talks with the authorities and we were assured of an all inclusive mechanism i.e. influx check gate, registration of tourists or skilled / unskilled labors etc, will be implemented along the border areas. But nothing has been done on the ground since then, so people have lost their faith on empty promises.
The govt. should abandon its myopic vision on this issue and come up with a fully secure mechanism to check the influx crisis with opening its doors for consultation with all the parties involved. Last but not the least; Garo Hills region has witnessed its portion of damages through the railway connectivity. The so called fully functioning Mendipathar Railway Station near Assam border has contributed nothing but a single passenger train which runs between Mendipathar to Guwahati and vice versa. People of the entire Garo Hills reason, except the nearby areas, couldn’t avail its services due to the unreasonable timing of its operation but we’ve seen increase in crimes like abduction, sexual harassment and theft.
ADE strongly urges the govt. to take necessary steps to address the issues which concerns the NGOs of the state before commencing any further. Unless and until these matters are tackled ADE in co-operation with all other NGO s will be compelled to initiate a state wide agitation against any future Railway Projects.
