HITO opposes USTM’s Assam evictee education drive, flags threat to Meghalaya’s indigenous rights

Meghalaya pressure group - the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) - has strongly objected to the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya’s (USTM) initiative 'Mission Rehabilitation Education', which aims to provide educational support to children of families evicted from Assam.

In a letter addressed to USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque, HITO expressed “strong reservations” against the move, arguing that it indirectly legitimizes illegal immigrants and poses long-term social, political, and national security risks.

"Facilitating their integration into our state’s educational framework is not merely a benign act of charity; it is a move with far-reaching social and political consequences," HITO said, warning that such initiatives could eventually erode the rights of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities under the Sixth Schedule.

The group, in the letter, stated, "Such gestures inadvertently set a precedent — one that opens the door to long-term settlement, the procurement of residential or domicile certificates, and eventually, legal and political claims that erode the indigenous rights of the people of Meghalaya."

Citing concerns about illegal migration from Bangladesh and its security implications, HITO urged the university to reconsider the program, stating that humanitarian gestures should not come at the cost of Meghalaya’s demographic and cultural integrity.

"As a community organization deeply rooted in the defense of Meghalaya’s land, people, and cultural identity, we view your current stance as one that risks compromising not only our demographic integrity but also our constitutional safeguards as Scheduled Tribe citizens under the Sixth Schedule," it further added. 

Concluding their letter, the pressure group urged the university to reassess their decision, adding, "We expect that legacy to continue — but not at the expense of Meghalaya’s lawful rights and demographic stability."