SHILLONG: Mawkhar MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit (KHNAM) has demanded that the KHADC should stall the issue of fresh trading licenses to non-tribal traders.
“The local indigenous people at present are able to take up any kind of business activities and jobs on their own, therefore, a time has come for the Council to stop issuing any fresh trading licenses,” Basaiawmoit said while moving a motion during the third day of the Council Autumn Session on Thursday.
He however questioned the decision of the Council to issue trading licenses to a non-tribal entity when Trade by Non-Tribal Regulation Act of 1959 clearly states that the Council cannot issue licenses to a non-tribal entity if a tribal is competent enough to do the same trade.
“This is totally against the interest of our own people,” the KHNAM MDC said.
While referring to Iewduh, he said that this traditional market is known to be business hub for the local indigenous people.
“But now all the major shops have been occupied by the non-tribal businessman. I am deeply hurt to see the local indigenous people are now only sitting as vendors in the market,” Basaiawmoit said.
In reply, Executive Member in-charge Trade Antonio War said that the Council would not be able to completely stop issuing trading licenses.
While citing an example, he said that the Centre withdrew the Trade by Non-Tribal Regulation Act of 1959 from Lushai Hills after they decided to stop issuing of trading licenses.
“It is because of this Act that we are able to regulate the trading activities of the non-tribals. If this act is withdrawn from the Council, then we would have no other mechanism to check the trading activities by the non-tribals,” he said.
War claimed that after he took over, the number of trading licenses issued by the Council has decreased.
“We are coming up with stringent procedures to discourage the non-tribal traders to come and apply for the trading license,” the EM in-charge Trade said.
He said that it is true that majority of the shops in Iewduh have been occupied by the non-tribal traders.
“But the actual owners of these shops are our own people. It is because of this reason that the Council cannot initiate any action since the non-tribal traders have got the NOC from the Syiem of Mylliem to occupy the shops,” War said.