Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met members of the A’chik Literary Society in Tura on Friday to apprise them of the Government’s decision to include Khasi and Garo as official languages of Meghalaya alongside English.
Sharing details of the decision, the Chief Minister stated the move marks a historic step towards recognising and promoting the linguistic heritage of the State.
He noted that while a resolution had earlier been passed in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly seeking inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, there was a need to send a strong message—both to the people of the State and the Government of India—on the importance of promoting local languages at all levels.
“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 this decision has been taken by the Cabinet,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that the decision represents a major step forward, and while the full integration of these languages in government communications, administration, and examinations would take time, the process has now been formally set in motion.
Sangma further informed that future legislative proceedings would also gradually incorporate the use of Khasi and Garo languages, noting that it would be appropriate for debates in the Autumn Session to take place in these languages in the new Assembly building.
The Chief Minister also solicited the support of the A’chik Literary Society in drafting the necessary rules and frameworks for implementation.
“We need your support in ensuring that the decision is implemented in the right spirit and has the desired impact,” he said, adding that the step would further strengthen the case for inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule.
He expressed his appreciation to the A’chik Literary Society for their consistent efforts in preserving and promoting the Garo language through their rich literary contributions, and acknowledged their role in achieving this significant milestone.
Members of the Society welcomed the Government’s decision and reiterated their commitment to continue working towards the promotion and development of the Garo language.