Meghalaya: GSMC leader collapses during hunger strike

No medical team or doctor has been designated by the District Administration to monitor the health of the protestors at the protest site

Biplab Dey

The situation at the site of the hunger strike being staged by the A’chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) turned grim on Sunday with one of leaders falling ill and collapsing due to fatigue and lack of food.

Co-Chairman of the GSMC, Balkarin Ch Marak collapsed during the protest and continues to be in critical condition. The hunger strike by the ACHIK and other supporting organizations demanding some sort of assurance on the backlog policy (roster system and reservation policy) and the creation of a Winter Capital in Tura, crossed the sixth day on Sunday. Balkarin, who joined on the second day, had been on a fast for five days in a row. The demand for announcing Tura capital of Meghalaya is said to be pending for almost three decades sources told Northeast Live, that the structure and the buildings for the Winter Capital is almost ready in Tura.

According to the protestors, apart from two medical staff from the Dakopgre CHC visiting the protest site soon after Sunday’s incident, no medical team or doctor has been designated by the District Administration to monitor the health of the protestors. In addition, the government continues to keep mum towards their demands.

Speaking from the protest site, former MCS Officer, Laben Ch Marak questioned the government’s apathy towards the situation as well as the lack of any kind of action from the District Administration.

“Balkarin joined one day after me. We have been drinking only rain water from a bottle and surviving. No doctor has visited us, he went with me to freshen up and after that you can see what has happened to him (Balkarin). He is in a serious condition,” the former MCS Officer said.

“I called a doctor friend of mine who in turn called the DMHO. It was only after that that two staff from the Dakopgre CHC were sent here,” he added.

Surprisingly, according to Marak, the medical staff that turned up in a private vehicle and after checking Balkarin’s blood pressure and giving him an energy drink,
took him to the Civil Hospital.

“Is this a normal case? It seems there are no doctors in Tura. Who is the designated doctor for this case? Did the DC not designate a doctor for this particular case? In Shillong, the health minister was there after just three days. Luckily, by the grace of God I am still strong. We are only taking plain water and nothing else,” Marak said angrily.

Meanwhile, protestors refused to let the medical staff take Balkarin to the hospital as there was no designated doctor or an ambulance at the site. He continues to be treated at the site.

“They wanted to take him to hospital in their private car only after the public got agitated. Initially they wanted us to take him there,” Marak added.

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