The KHADC has passed an official resolution to urge the government of India through the state government to take urgent steps to bring an amendment to the constitution (Schedule Tribes) Order 1950 by recognising only the indigenous tribes as the scheduled tribes in Meghalaya.
The resolution was moved by the CEM KHADC Pyniaid Sing Syiem on the first day of the KHADC winter session today.
Stressing on the importance of the resolution leader of opposition, Titosstarwell Chyne said that several tribes in the state enjoy the same rights as the indigenous tribals in the state but the indigenous tribals of the state do not enjoy the same rights in other states.
“What is more concerning is that other tribes from other states have bought land in areas like Madanrting, Happy Valley, Pilankatta, etc….but can we buy land in other northeast states?” he asked.
He said that there are talks on suppression and influx but the state is facing these issues from other tribals from other parts of the region.
MDC of Mylliem, Ronnie V Lyngdoh said that the resolution is should not be mixed up with land, as there is the Land Transfer Act and that a separate resolution can be passed on it.
Nongthymmai MDC, Latiplang Kharkongnor said that a court ruling has also said that tribes that migrate and settle in other states can no longer claim the benefit or reservation.
In response to all the debate, the CEM said in just these five months the new executive committee has paid visits to villages in the border areas including the 21 villages under block 2, and learned the hardships faced by the indigenous tribal people living with other community.
“We are very concerned but we cannot reveal everything because when we go to war as soldiers we cannot tell our enemies our strategies. Same is the case of this resolution which is implicit where we don’t want to spill out our desire. And if the LO (Chyne) keeps saying that he is the one who has brought most of the resolutions on important issues then I wanted to ask him how many times have he paid visits to places in his more than three years as the CEM KHADC,” he asked Chyne who keep claiming that this was also his resolution.
He said that this EC is concerned and is not just sitting at the council office in Shillong but it is on the ground and looking at issues including trading by non-tribals.
