Shillong, Mar 17: A civil delegation from Garo Hills today met Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar to seek his intervention in safeguarding tribal governance, electoral structure and land rights under the Sixth Schedule in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Shiva Sangma, general, secretary of the Constitutional Right Forum, said that recent developments in the region have raised serious concerns regarding the continued exercise of these constitutional safeguards.
“The inclusion of non-tribal persons in GHADC electoral rolls, potential participation of non-tribal candidates and the allocation or transfer of land pattas in plains belt areas to non-tribals,” are some of Sangma’s concerns.
He said that such developments, if unaddressed, directly undermine the purpose of the Sixth Schedule, threatening the integrity of indigenous self-governance and risk permanent erosion of the rights of the Garo tribe.
Sangma said that in light of these concerns, the delegation urged the Governor to direct that only persons belonging to the Garo Scheduled Tribe shall be eligible to contest elections to the GHADC.
They also want the Governor to ensure that all GHADC candidates are bona fide citizens of Meghalaya or persons born within the state to maintain genuine indigenous representation.
He also said that the group wants a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls within GHADC jurisdiction and to remove non-tribal entries that compromise the constitutional character of the council.
Sangma also said that there should also be strict safeguards preventing the sale, transfer, or issuance of land pattas held by non-tribals, limiting inheritance only to biological heirs.
