๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐ญ: ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง-๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ
The Jaiรฑtia National Council (JNC) staged a protest at the office premises of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), raising concerns over the continued marginalisation of the Pnar language in the Councilโs official functioning and the proliferation of illegal trading activities by non-tribal traders in Jaintia Hills.
The protest was organised after the JHADC, according to the JNC, failed to fulfil assurances made to the organisation in a memorandum submitted in September 2025.
The JNC reiterated that the Pnar language is central to the identity, culture, and daily life of the Jaintia people and must be accorded its rightful place in all official affairs of the District Council. It pointed out that although the A-B Jaintia alphabet has been approved by the Council and subsequently notified in the Meghalaya Gazette, the use of Pnar in legislative proceedings, administrative orders, notifications, and institutional communication remains minimal.
The organisation demanded the immediate and comprehensive incorporation of the Pnar language and the A-B Jaintia script across all legislative, administrative, and educational institutions functioning under the jurisdiction of the JHADC.
Addressing the gathering, JNC presidentย Sambormi Lyngdohย criticised the Council for failing to actively pursue a resolution urging the State Government to include the Pnar language under theย Meghalaya State Language Act. He said that official recognition of Pnar was not merely symbolic, but essential for safeguarding the customs, traditions, and matrilineal practices of the Jaintia community, particularly in matters related to traditional titles and inheritance through the maternal line.
The second major issue highlighted during the protest was the alleged illegal and irregular trading activities by non-tribal traders in the JHADC area. The JNC alleged that trading licences were being issued or renewed without adequate scrutiny, allowing non-tribal traders from outside the State to operate in violation of laws intended to protect the economic interests of indigenous tribal communities.
Lyngdoh further alleged that lax enforcement of licensing norms had resulted in significant revenue losses for the District Council, depriving it of funds required for development works and the settlement of pending liabilities.
During the address, Chief Executive Memberย Thombor Shiwatย of the JHADC reportedly expressed concerns about the institutional limitations of the Council and requested that the speech be halted.
Following assurances from the Chief Executive Member and the Deputy Chief Executive Member that the issues raised would be addressed, the JNC decided to temporarily suspend the protest, allowing the Council time to initiate corrective measures. The organisation, however, warned that it would intensify its agitation if concrete action was not taken within the stipulated period.
