Jowai, June 6: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and Chairman of the Regional Committee on Interstate Border for East Jaintia Hills, Sniawbhalang Dhar, today chaired a review meeting on the Assam-Meghalaya area of difference MoU with specific reference to the inclusion of Baikam village under Meghalaya.
The meeting was held at Ratacherra village.
Present at the meeting were the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District, Shivansh Awasthi; Additional Deputy Commissioner, J.U. Kharpuri; Superintendent of Police, Giri Prasad; Sub-Divisional Officer (Sadar), M. Kumar; Additional Superintendent of Police, S. Paslein; Block Development Officer of Wapung C&RD Block, M. Kyndait; traditional heads from Baikam, Ratacherra, and Malidor villages; along with residents of Baikam.
Briefing the media after the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister described the interaction as positive. He informed that Baikam village comprises 37 households, of which 30 have expressed the desire to join Meghalaya.
He informed that the meeting provided a vital platform for the Regional Committee and the villagers to deliberate on the issue. A final coordination meeting between the Deputy Commissioners of East Jaintia Hills and Cachar (Assam) will be held soon to take the discussion forward.
Following this meeting, a detailed report will be submitted by the East Jaintia Hills District Administration to the State Government for further necessary action.
Speaking on development schemes in the region, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that residents of Baikam currently receive benefits from both Meghalaya and Assam. He informed that a final resolution is necessary to streamline access to government schemes and ensure efficient service delivery.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shivansh Awasthi stated that several coordination meetings have already taken place, including one with the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, aimed at resolving the long-pending issue of Baikam village’s affiliation.
