SHILLONG: The pro-ILP pressure groups have expressed shock and disbelief on the stand of majority of the MDCs of KHADC on the issue of implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State.
“The district council is mandated by the constitution of India to protect and preserve the interests of the tribal population in the State but at this crucial juncture when we are demanding the implementation of the ILP in the State the KHADC has betrayed the indigenous tribal population of the State,” HNYF general secretary Sadon K Blah said in a statement issued here on Friday.
Blah alleged that most of the MDCS are using the District Councils as a platform to reach the higher level– the State Legislative Assembly or even the Indian Parliament.
“Apparently the majority of the sitting MDCs of KHADC are not fit to be members of this institution which is supposed to be tribal oriented. They are just politicians seeking to extend their careers even at the cost of the interests of the tribal people,” he said.
Blah said that the three Districts Councils have the knowledge about the growth of the non-tribal population in the State as it keeps records and issues trading and transport licenses to non-tribals.
“Despite the claim of one MDC that there is a decline in the issuance of these licenses by the KHADC the figures (as per the records for the year 2012-13) prove otherwise,” he said.
He said that the KHADC has issued a 218 fresh trading licenses and 370 renewal trading licenses.