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Panel to prepare case for Khasi in 8th Schedule

By Raju Das

SHILLONG, Nov 27 � Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today informed the Assembly that a five-member committee would be constituted to give its recommendations for the inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Replying to a discussion on a resolution for inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, moved by the Opposition United Democratic Party member Paul Lyngdoh, Sangma made the assurance that the five-member committee would be notified tomorrow.

He further proposed that the members could be drawn from the elected representatives, both from the treasury and the Opposition and also include members from the Sahitya Academi and the Khasi Authors� Society. The announcement was well-received by members of the House who thumped their desks in jubilance.

The Chief Minister said that basic objective of the committee is to �expedite� the inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and the members would oversee what measures are required to move forward in this direction.

Sangma added that after the recommendations are compiled, a delegation from the committee would meet officials at New Delhi and present its view to them on the need to include the language in the scheduled list.

Observing that it would have added benefit on the Government�s effort and commitment to include the language in the scheduled list, Sangma assured that the State Government would continue to try include the language in the 8th schedule.

However, the Chief Minister informed the House that the Central Government is yet to have specific norms and criteria, based on which a language could be included in the Eighth Schedule and so it has formed an Inter-Ministerial Group to lay down specific norms for the same. There are as many as 38 languages, including Khasi, which are seeking inclusion in the 8th Schedule.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister replying to a discussion on another resolution said, the State Government is committed to follow the State Reservation Policy in letter and spirit after Garo National Council legislator, Clifford R Marak sought for the introduction of a Roster System in the Government departments for uniform promotion, in line with other States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and others.

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