Shillong, Mar 11: The Mothers’ Union of Tura has appealed to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for early publication of the GHADC legislation concerning the ST certificate requirement (struck down by the High Court) for candidates aiming to contest in the elections.
According to the union, the notification, intended to protect the tribal interests, has been received with hostility by the non-tribal communities especially by the Muslim community in the plain belt.
The union urged the Chief Minister to ensure the legislation follows proper procedures and gets the Governor’s assent so that indigenous rights of the Garos will be protected as ensured by Sixth Schedule of the the Constitution.
“Needless to highlight the problems of our community being oppressed by the illegal migrants in the plain belt regions due to its strategic location and demographic changes. The area as you are well aware has seen an influx of people from the neighbouring country, leading to alienation of land, endangering rights and cultural preservation among the indigenous Garo community even to the extent of degradation of our beautiful environment,” the union stated.
The union also wants the state government to engage with all stakeholders to build consensus and safeguard the rights of the Garo community.
“In the context of the present situation, we strongly demand that the legislation passed by the GHADC should be published in the Meghalaya Gazette at the earliest so that peace and normalcy will be restored in the region. If the State had the willpower, it could push for publication of the notification,” the Mothers’ Union stated.
A conglomerate of civil society organisations of Garo Hills region has also written to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to acknowledge the GHADC notification (which has been struck down by the High Court) mandating production of scheduled tribe certificate by prospective candidates for the GHADC polls.
The groups argued that to ensure the principles laid out in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution are upheld, candidates running for the district council elections must produce their Scheduled Tribe certificate.
They assert that this is crucial for preserving the autonomy of bonafide scheduled tribes in their respective autonomous district councils.
According to the Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE), A·chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), A·chik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO), Federation for A·chik Freedom (FAF), Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and Garo Students’ Union (GSU) that this will primarily ensure that the rights provided to the Hill Tribes in the State of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura are not trampled upon by non-tribal communities.
“Secondarily, it will help in pacifying tensions that has been igniting between the tribal and non-tribal communities that are residing in the Garo Hills Region,” the groups stated.
According to them the Garo community collectively have been advocating for the non-dilution of the power and autonomy that was enshrined in the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution.
They pointed out that the GHADC has been an exception among all the ADCs throughout India as Bengali-Speaking Muslim (Non-Tribal) Community has been illegitimately exercising unprecedented rights by contesting for the post of MDCs in the GHADC against the purpose and the spirit of the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution.
The groups pointed out that the tribal people of Garo Hills Region have been demanding for consecutive decades for the review of the participation of Bengali-Speaking Muslim (Non-Tribal) Community in the GHADC election.
According to the groups the February 17 notification of the GHADC had been well accepted by the tribal population of the Garo Hills region and is viewed as a step towards reinstating the purpose and spirit of the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution.
