For the first time in the history of Meghalaya, the state Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday convened in which the agenda notes were formally presented in three languages—English, Khasi and Garo.
Informing this development, spokesperson of the MDA–2 government Wailadmiki Shylla characterised the Cabinet proceedings as a historic step reflecting the state’s evolving language policy framework and its broader commitment to linguistic inclusion.
Talking to Media persons, MDA Spokesperson Shylla said, “Today is a cabinet is kind of historic one where the agenda note is on three different languages, Khasi, Garo and English. So I think it’s a big thing and is a big achievement for a state and I think it’s going to benefit at large for people of the state and I think this is also one of the issue where we are showing that we are fully concerned regarding pushing forward for the inclusion of the Khasi and Garo under the 8th schedule.”
The development assumes added political significance as debates around constitutional recognition of regional languages gain renewed momentum in Meghalaya, with civil society and political voices consistently advocating for their inclusion in the national framework of scheduled languages.
Responding to a query on the possibility of extending official language status to Pnar in the future, Shylla indicated that such a course would depend on regional aspiration and collective demand. He said, ” Definitely, I think it’s up to the people from that region. So since they already push for the alphabet and other things. So I think the final move will be for that. as a representative from that area, I always go with the sentiment of my people.”
