Shillong, Oct 5: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Friday staged a sit-in protest in the city demanding upgrade of Mawsynram C&RD block to a full-fledged civil subdivision.
“No Mawsynram Civil Sub-division, no rest,” read one of the placards during the protest staged by members of KSU’s Sawsymper, Balat and Lawbah units.
No action has been taken to fulfill the demand made for the past 24 years, said KSU South West Khasi Hills president Forwardman Nongrem.
He lamented the false promises made by multiple political leaders during the previous and current government, compelling them to come to the capital city to stage the protest.
He also said Mawsynram block, which was created 62 years ago, should be upgraded to a civil sub-division based on its population.
“In 2022, the government had upgraded few C&RD blocks at Dalu, Rongjeng and Jengjal. If you look at their population, it is more or less the same like Mawsynram, which has a population of 50,000 as per 2011 census. After a lapse of 12-13 years, we expect the population now may have crossed 60000-70000,” he said.
“Moreover, the distance of Dalu from Tura is just 30-32 km but the distance from Mawsynram to Shillong is 69 km and from its border areas to the state capital, the distance would cross 100 km,” Nongrem added.
The KSU leader also reminded the promise made by chief minister Conrad K Sangma to bring administration closer to the people and said, “It is sad to note that there is total lack of seriousness on the part of the state government.”
