SHILLONG, APR 16: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday met and apprised the Khasi Authors Society of the cabinet decision to include the Khasi and the Garo languages as the official languages of the State besides English.
Sharing this historic decision with the members of the Khasi Authors Society, the Chief Minister said that while the resolution was passed in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to include the Khasi and the Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule there was a need to send a strong message to the people of the State and the central government of the importance of promoting local languages at all levels and for the agenda of inclusion of these languages in the Eighth Schedule.
“For many years there has been a demand from the people to include the Khasi and the Garo languages as the official languages of the state and I am happy to share with you that, that decision has been taken by the cabinet today,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that this is an important and major step and though the process of fully introducing the languages in government and official communications and examinations would take time the decision has set the system for the adoption of these languages. He also said that in the Autumn Assembly Session legislators will not be able to speak and debate in these languages.
“It will be very appropriate to have the Autumn Session in the new assembly building where debates will take place in Khasi and Garo languages,” he said.
He solicited the support of the Khasi Authors Society in the draft of the rules, saying, “We need your support in ensuring that the decision that we have taken is implemented in the right spirit and has that necessary impact.”
He also said that the decision taken will strengthen the case for the inclusion of the languages in the Eight Schedule.
In conclusion, the Chief Minister thanked the Khasi Authors Society for their contributions and their relentless hard work that has resulted in the landmark decision.
“The Khasi Authors Society and the Achik Literature Society have been instrumental behind this decision and I thank them and also seek their support in moving forward,” he added.
Also present during the meeting were Deputy Chief Ministers, Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar.
