The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on April 5 in Shillong warned that indigenous communities across the Northeast remain highly vulnerable to demographic pressures arising from migration, urging vigilance to protect their identity and rights. NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa told reporters that the region’s indigenous populations are “microscopic” in size and therefore particularly exposed to external pressures, including migration from Bangladesh.
Jyrwa cited developments in Tripura and parts of Assam where, he said, indigenous people have been overwhelmed and reduced to a minority in their own land. He used those examples to illustrate how demographic change can alter social and political balances, stressing that such shifts have serious implications for cultural survival and local interests.
Warning that Meghalaya faces a similar risk, Jyrwa called on the public and local leaders to closely monitor migration patterns in neighbouring states as well as events unfolding in Bangladesh. He urged communities to remain alert to both cross-border movement and internal migration that could place further strain on already small indigenous populations.
Calling for collective awareness, Jyrwa said safeguarding the identity and interests of indigenous groups will require sustained vigilance and a clear understanding of the evolving challenges across the region. He emphasized that proactive engagement, information-sharing and community preparedness are essential to respond to demographic pressures and to protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/06/neso-warns-of-demographic-threats-to-indigenous-peoples/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2026-04-06 02:32:00
