📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Dison Antu Ritchil Marak
Education
Garo Committee Calls for Safeguarding of Language, Education and Constitutional Rights in Meghalaya
✍️ shillongtoday.com
🗓 20 Sep 2026, 06:32 AM
👁 7
The Garo Committee in Shillong has formally demanded that the state protect the Garo language, ensure access to education in the mother tongue, and uphold constitutional safeguards for the community.
The Garo Committee convened in Shillong and issued a formal statement urging the Meghalaya government to take concrete steps to preserve the Garo language. The committee highlighted the declining use of the language among younger generations and called for its inclusion in school curricula and official communications.
In addition to linguistic concerns, the committee demanded that educational policies guarantee the right of Garo children to receive instruction in their mother tongue, as mandated by the Constitution. It argued that such measures are essential for cultural continuity and academic achievement.
The committee also appealed for broader constitutional safeguards, insisting that any legislation or administrative action affecting the Garo community be reviewed for compliance with fundamental rights. Officials have been asked to respond within a stipulated timeframe.
Stakeholders, including local NGOs and academic institutions, have expressed support for the demands, noting that similar provisions exist in other Indian states. The outcome of the committee’s appeal could set a precedent for minority language rights across the Northeast.
In addition to linguistic concerns, the committee demanded that educational policies guarantee the right of Garo children to receive instruction in their mother tongue, as mandated by the Constitution. It argued that such measures are essential for cultural continuity and academic achievement.
The committee also appealed for broader constitutional safeguards, insisting that any legislation or administrative action affecting the Garo community be reviewed for compliance with fundamental rights. Officials have been asked to respond within a stipulated timeframe.
Stakeholders, including local NGOs and academic institutions, have expressed support for the demands, noting that similar provisions exist in other Indian states. The outcome of the committee’s appeal could set a precedent for minority language rights across the Northeast.