A Correspondent
Boko: Garo National Council (GNC) has started campaigning for awareness regarding NRC in the Garo villages in Lower Assam’s Kamrup district along the Assam Meghalaya border. The initiative taken by GNC Kamrup district committee and the committee started campaigning from last Wednesday at Hahim under Boko Constituency and then in Ukium under Chaygaon constituency on Thursday. President Enindra Marak told that according to rough estimates, the names of about 500 Garo villagers in Kamrup district have been excluded from the final NRC list. The NRC final list released on August 31 in this year and a time period of 120 days have been fixed for them to appeal in foreigners’ tribunals for their inclusion after they get their certified copies of the order from the authorities. So, GNC started the campaign with the adjective to guide people who have not been able to check whether their names have been included in the final list. Besides, many have not applied for inclusion in the NRC. So GNC have alerted them that they might have to confront legal issues in the event of an inquiry regarding NRC in future.
More than 100 representatives from 14 Garo villages near Ukium area took part in the meeting along with other Garo organizations. The meeting was presided over by President of Garo National Council Ukium regional unit Sengjaan Sangma. The main topic was explained by Enindra Marak and the ‘votes of thanks’ was delivered by vice president of Kamrup district Garo Women Council Lawpressty Sangma.
Berington Marak, a representative from Umtholi village, shared his views in the meeting that most of the Garo people have submitted their documents to include their names in NRC. But, now the Garo people of this area could not check their names in the final NRC list due to no internet connection and mobile network and the NSK is 30 kilometers far from these areas. He also added that till now after the release of NRC final list, no government official served any notice regarding NRC and it happened due to poor connection in this remote area. He also urged the government to establish an NSK in Ukium. Ukium and nearby 26 village people have till now partially checked their names. So the government should establish an NSK for 15 thousand villagers of 27 villages.