SHILLONG : The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) has announced that its peaceful march to the Main Secretariat on August 6 will highlight several key public issues, including the crisis in small-scale coal mining, protection of community land, teachers’ concerns and environmental issues.
Addressing reporters on Friday, VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said the objective of the march is to peacefully convey growing public dissatisfaction with the state government’s policies, not to create any law and order problem.
“Our intention is not to create any law and order problem. We are going to have a peaceful march,” Basaiawmoit said.
He clarified that the party has no intention of storming the Secretariat, stressing that there is a clear difference between a peaceful march and an act of confrontation.
Basaiawmoit also urged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to remain in Shillong on the day of the programme so he could witness the public response firsthand. He appealed to citizens affected by various government policies to participate in the march while warning that the VPP would not be responsible for any attempt by miscreants to disrupt the peaceful programme.
A major focus of the march will be the plight of families dependent on the coal sector. Basaiawmoit said miners, small coal owners and traders have suffered severe economic hardship since coal mining was halted.
He said the party is demanding that the government allow small-scale coal mining under strict regulations so that local families can resume their livelihoods.
The VPP president alleged that while small operators continue to face restrictions, large-scale mining activities are being facilitated. He claimed a similar trend is visible in the stone quarrying sector, where manual workers are being sidelined in favour of large contractors using heavy machinery.
The party will also demand an immediate halt to the establishment of coke plants and cement factories, alleging that they damage the environment while benefiting only a handful of people.
Apart from mining, the VPP will raise concerns regarding teachers who are preparing for the Meghalaya Teachers Eligibility Test (MTET) while simultaneously being assigned additional government duties. The party will also oppose the reappointment of retired government officials and seek stronger protection for community land, raid land and hima land, citing concerns over land encroachment in border villages, including Lapangap and Mawsikar.
Basaiawmoit accused the government of ignoring public sentiment and environmental concerns, saying it must be held accountable for its decisions.
He expressed hope that the August 6 peaceful march would send a strong message to the government and encourage it to respond positively to the concerns raised by the people of Meghalaya.