By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: It seems that the demand of the ANVC (currently under ceasefire agreement) for creation of a Garo Autonomous Council (GAC) in line with the Bodo Territorial Council in Assam has hit a major stumbling block.
It is learnt that the State Government is finding it difficult to create the GAC because of the presence of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Garo Hills.
With the GHADC already in place, the State Government does not find it feasible to create another institution as far as grassroots administration is concerned.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said that the district councils in the State including the GHADC cover the whole of Meghalaya and the State Government is finding it tough to create the GAC as demanded by the ANVC.
“In Assam creation of the Bodo Territorial Council did not pose any problem since ADCs in Assam exist in few districts only,” Pariat said.
He also added that there will be far reaching implications as far as creation of the GAC was concerned. He further added that the government had already put in place several developmental initiatives from time to time and so there was no urgent need for any special development package for Garo Hills as is being demanded by the ANVC.
“There is no disparity in allocation of funds for Garo Hills and several schemes have already been launched in the region,” he added.
The Centre had sent several reminders to the state government to give its comments on the formation of a GAC as well as the development package which are the key demands of the ANVC.
“We are still going through their various demands and will submit our views shortly to the Centre,” the Chief Secretary added.
However, the ANVC had made it clear that the proposed GAC is entirely different from the existing autonomous district councils.
Under the proposed body, the ANVC is stressing direct funding from the Centre for the development of the three districts of Garo Hills.
