Ampati: The Hajong Students’ Union (HSU) has submitted a memorandum to Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat through the Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya, proposing the inclusion of the Maa Kamakhya Temple Pilgrimage Heritage Site at Gofraigaon under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) Scheme.
The HSU, which represents the Hajong community and is recognized as the fourth-largest indigenous tribe of Meghalaya, urged the Ministry to support the integrated and sustainable development of the Maa Kamakhya Temple in South West Garo Hills.
The students’ body stated that the inclusion of the site under the PRASAD scheme would help bridge infrastructural gaps, promote spiritual and cultural tourism, and generate livelihood opportunities for local communities, particularly the Hajong, Koch, and Garo populations.
In the memorandum, the HSU highlighted the religious, cultural, and heritage significance of the temple, which is dedicated to Maa Kamakhya, locally known as ‘Aiya Kamakkha’.
The temple, believed to have been built in the 19th century, stands as an important spiritual centre for devotees from across Assam and the Garo Hills. It attracts a large number of pilgrims, particularly during major Hindu festivals.
The union proposed several development components in line with the PRASAD Scheme, including the improvement of approach roads and pathways with solar lighting, establishment of water supply and sewage systems, construction of pilgrim amenities such as facilitation centres, parking areas, and sanitation facilities, and conservation of the main temple structure.
The proposal also included provisions for CCTV surveillance, first-aid posts, and a dedicated “Craft Haat” to promote local handicrafts and traditional cuisine
According to HSU, the project would boost the regional economy, enhance the pilgrim experience, promote responsible tourism, and ensure the preservation of the area’s fragile ecology. It would also strengthen cultural integration by showcasing the diverse heritage of the Hajong, Koch, and Garo communities.
The Hajong Students’ Union appealed for the Ministry’s approval to include the Maa Kamakhya Pilgrimage Heritage Site under the PRASAD Scheme, emphasizing that such recognition would preserve a vital part of Meghalaya’s spiritual heritage and foster sustainable tourism in the region.
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Copies of the memorandum were also forwarded to the Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister for the kind appraisal of PM Narendra Modi, as well as to the Commissioner and Secretary, Tourism Department, Government of Meghalaya.
The memorandum was signed by Pankaj Hajong, General Secretary, and Bapu Hajong, President of the Hajong Students’ Union.
