Deputy CM chairs review meeting on inclusion of Baikam Village to Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 6, 2025

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Committee on Interstate Border for East Jaintia Hills, on Friday chaired a review meeting on the Assam-Meghalaya Boundary MoU, specifically regarding the boundary at Ratacherra village and the inclusion of Baikam village into Meghalaya.

Present at the meeting were Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills, Shivansh Awasthi, Additional Deputy Commissioner J.U. Kharpuri, Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, Sub-Divisional Officer (Sardar) M. Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police S. Paslein, Block Development Officer of Wapung C&RD Block M. Kyndait, traditional heads of Baikam, Ratacherra, and Malidor villages, and residents of Baikam village.

Briefing the media after the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister stated, “The meeting was positive,” and further informed that Baikam village has “37 households, out of which 30 households have expressed the desire to be a part of Meghalaya.” He said that the meeting served as “a significant platform to both the Regional Committee and the residents of the village to address the issue.”

He added that a “final meeting between the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District and his counterpart from Assam will be held soon to further discuss on the issue before a final call is made.”

Following this meeting between the Deputy Commissioners of East Jaintia Hills and Cachar (Assam), the district administration will submit a report to the state government for further action.

Speaking on the development schemes availed by Baikam residents, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that “currently the people are receiving benefits from both Meghalaya and Assam,” and that “a final decision needs to be finalized so that the people will get optimum access to government schemes.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shivansh Awasthi stated that “multiple coordination meetings were held in the past, including one with the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar,” with the objective of resolving the issue related to Baikam.