Shillong, Oct 27: The Garo Baptist Convention expresses its grave concern and disappointment over exclusion of Garo or A·chik language from the tentative list of 38 languages to be incorporated in the Eight Schedule notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs recently.
The Garo language and literature have evolved over time and is spoken by about 1.5 million people in the Northeast India and primarily in the five districts of the state of Meghalaya. Overall, about 33% of the population of Meghalaya speak Garo or A·chik language. On the academic front, the language has reached doctoral study level and thousands of students pursue their studies in Garo language.
The demand for inclusion of Garo language in the eight schedule of the Constitution of India is a long pending call and legitimate. Garo Baptist Convention urges the government of India and the government of Meghalaya to consider urgently reviewing and amending the recently released list and include the Garo or A·chik language in revised list.
The Garo Baptist Convention urges both the central and state government to seriously consider aspirations of Garo people in this regard, said Sundar A. Sangma President and Rev. Janang R. Sangma General Secretary GBC, Tura in the press statement issued today.
