Shillong, June 28: Mawsynram MLA, H.M. Shangpliang said that the Mawsynram Civil Sub-Division Demand Committee (MCSDDC) would not make the demand from a political point of view but based on people’s need.

Shangpliang told reporters after the meeting of the MCSDDC that the committee after threadbare discussion on the modalities to move ahead in placing the demand before the state government decided to draft a proper memorandum and the same should be completed by July 2.

After approving the draft memorandum, the committee would seek an appointment with the chief minister Conrad K Sangma and submit the memorandum to him to request the state government to also make Mawsynram a Civil Sub-Division like Ranikor.

Shangpliang said that the demand to create the Mawsynram Civil Sub-Division has been there for the past 20 years.

Shangpliang said that Mawsynram deserved to get the Civil Sub Division and its strong points would be its topography covering areas right from Weiloi upto the Indo-Bangla border, and there are around 75 villages located in remote areas including those at the border with Bangladesh.

He said that Mawsynram is lacking various infrastructure from road to mobile connectivity, and people from far away have to travelled to Shillong for small needs including submission of applications for getting the caste certificate.

Stating that Mawsynram has more than 20 government establishments, he said, “We are demanding purely on the basis of merit for the welfare and benefit of the people. We want to approach in a way without setting any deadline as we want the government to be considerate. We want the government to listen to the pain and suffering of the people. If the state government like the chief minister is saying is the government for the people, I would request him to be considerate.”

In total, Mawsynram has 178 villages with a population around one lakh.

On the allegation of P.N. Syiem, former MLA of Mawsynram that Shangpliang did not constitute a committee and demand immediately after winning the Assembly election, Shangpliang asked Syiem to explain why he as MLA for 10 years did not do anything even though he had campaigned in 2008 with a promise to make Mawsynram a Civil Sub Division if elected.

“We have also called a meeting to discuss the issue and formed the MCSDDC, but Syiem who is the MDC did not even bother to attend the meeting,” Shangpliang said.

Whether he would consider resigning as a member of the State Assembly like the Ranikor MLA, Martin M. Danggo, Shangpliang said that the demand for Mawsynram Civil sub-division is not for any political gain but it is for the welfare and benefit of the people.