Centre silent on award of package to outfit, increase in strength of GHADC
SHILLONG: A month after signing the peace pact, the ANVC has decided to seek more clarity on the Agreed Text for Settlement with the Centre and State Government.
ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma said that the agreement is ‘diplomatic’ in nature and lacks clarity on many points.
“But it is up to us to pursue continuously to make the agreement a reality,” Sangma said.
Besides the absence of clarity, the agreement signed on September 24 in New Delhi lacks practical approach as it mostly deals with the formation of committees and commissions to implement the peace pact. The agreement also does not specify the number of seats to be increased in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The original plan was to increase the seats in GHADC from the present 30 to 40 and once agreed this will also be applicable to KHADC (40 seats) and JHADC (34 seats).
However, the enhanced strength is yet to be specified and is likely to linger on as the Parliament has to amend the Constitution to make it a reality.
Moreover, the Centre has not announced any special package for the ANVC unlike the peace pact signed with Assam-based Bodo rebels and militant groups like UPDS and DHD.
The Bodo Territorial Council was awarded a socio-economic package of Rs.100 crore per annum for five years; the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council was given a special package of Rs.350 crore for five years following the agreement with the UPDS while the Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council got Rs.200 crore per annum for five years as per the agreement with the DHD.
Another area which lacks clarity is the participation of ANVC in the affairs of the GHADC before and post elections to the Council.
ANVC announces welfare society for cadres
The ANVC has decided to form a welfare society under the name Chelongma Kotok Welfare Association to look after the welfare of its cadres and to improve their living conditions.
ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma informed that the society would also look into the grievances of the cadres.
The militant group is also preparing the list of cadres and arms and ammunition to be submitted to the State Government for the surrender ceremony.
Sangma informed that the combined strength of its civil and armed cadres is around 350.
After the submission of the list of cadres and arms and ammunition, a formal surrender ceremony will be held sometime in the first week of November.