Shillong, June 8: The central bodies of the Jaiñtia Students’ Union (JSU) and the Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) on Monday extended their support to the ongoing hunger strike spearheaded by JCOMSWA President Marshall Biam, demanding the reopening of coal mining activities in the Jaiñtia Hills region.

During a meeting with Biam, leaders of both organisations urged the Meghalaya Government to immediately initiate dialogue with the JCOMSWA president, alleging that the government has repeatedly failed to deliver on its assurances regarding coal mining.

The JSU recalled that in 2019, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had assured the people that efforts would be made to facilitate the resumption of coal mining if his party came to power. The union also pointed to the widespread protests that followed the coal mining ban imposed in 2014, during which two people lost their lives.

Expressing concern over the economic impact of the prolonged ban, the JSU and JNC said thousands of families have been affected by unemployment and the loss of traditional livelihoods. The organisations questioned how much longer the people of Jaiñtia Hills would have to wait for a lasting solution to the issue.

Calling for urgent intervention, both groups urged the State Government to take concrete steps to resolve the long-pending matter and ensure that coal mining activities can resume in compliance with legal and environmental regulations.

The organisations maintained that the reopening of coal mining remains a crucial issue for the economy of Jaiñtia Hills and stressed the need for constructive engagement between the government and stakeholders to address the concerns of the affected communities.