By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, and Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya attended a meeting with the tribal leaders of Tamil Nadu recently.
As part of the follow up to the earlier meeting of tribal leaders in July 2012, a second meeting of tribal leaders of Tamil Nadu was held recently in the Planning Commission Conference Hall, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai. The meeting was facilitated by the Tribal Welfare Dept. Govt of Tamil Nadu, presided over by Kharshiing.
Kharshiing expressed his appreciation to the State Government, particularly to K.V. Giridhar, Director Tribal Welfare and senior officials of Planning Commission for facilitating the meeting of the tribal leaders.
Kharshiing informed that he had again met V Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs in September this year and the Union Minister had informed that his Ministry was considering moving the Govt of India for Constitution of a Commission as mandated under Article 339 to look into the issues of administration and welfare of the scheduled tribes in the Country.
The meeting urged the Central Government to urgently consider the constitution of such a Commission under Article 339 which is much needed to examine the many challenges faced by the scheduled tribes in various parts of the Country.
The meeting also resolved to empower Kharshiing, to constitute an adhoc National Tribal Council of India, representing the schedule tribes of the Country.