Govt turns down ANVC’s council demand

SHILLONG: The Government has ruled out formation of the Garoland Autonomous Council (GAC) as demanded by the ANVC, currently under ceasefire, rather it has proposed strengthening of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) with direct funding and providing more manpower.

An official said on Monday said that during the tripartite meeting to be held on January 5 here, representatives from both the Centre and State government will place a viable formula minus GAC before the ANVC delegation.

The proposal to be placed before them (ANVC delegation will be to give up the demand for GAC, the official said adding that the Government, on its part, will assure to make provisions to increase the number of members in GHADC and also to provide direct funding besides additional staff.

Earlier in an appeal, the Chie Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, while making clear the Government’s intention to ensure lasting peace in Garo Hill said that the final settlement would be worked out soon.

Senior members of ANVC, officials of State home department and those from the Union ministry of Home Affairs will attend the January 5 meeting here to finalise a settlement.

Formed in 1995, the ANVC’s initial demand was the formation of a Garo state, but after realizing that the fulfillment of their demand will take a very long period, the militant outfit, which entered into a ceasefire with the government in 2004, made the demand for the formation of GAC.

The ANVC had demanded the formation of GAC in line with the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) of Assam.

However, the State Government is not in a position to form GAC as there is already a GHADC which has similar features like the one demanded by ANVC.

Moreover, another view of the Government is that unlike Assam, the district councils in Garo Hills, Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills cover almost the entire state. The formation of BTC like institutions was possible for Assam as the autonomous district councils in the neighbouring state were only in certain pockets of that State. The Government also does not want to form another council whose powers and functions will be similar to the existing district councils.

In the past, ANVC made it clear that their idea of GAC is unlike the present autonomous district councils as the former will have more autonomy.

According to ANVC, under the proposed GAC, the militant outfit is emphasizing on direct funding from the Centre for the overall improvement of Garo Hills

The ANVC also believes that the GAC will be the ideal platform for monitoring funds to make sure that various schemes are properly implemented.