TURA: Several NGOs from Garo Hills including the Tengsak led GSU, FAF, ADE, FKJGP and AYWO recently met Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram at his official residence in Delhi to press for exclusion of non-tribals from the GHADC polls.
During their meeting the NGOs were assured that the matter would be pursued with the Meghalaya government and directions given to ensure the participation of only the tribals in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
“The elections to the District Councils do not fall under the purview or jurisdiction of the Chief Election Commissioner of India and the respective State governments have the power to formulate laws for the State Election Commission to follow the rules. The Autonomous Council will also have to pass legislation to the same effect which will be given assent by the Governor of the State on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State,” the NGOs quoted the minister as saying.
According to the NGOs, while admitting that the amendment of the Sixth Schedule in general would be tricky, the minister however stated that the Council and the State government must make it imperative to follow the provisions of the Sixth Schedule without fail and only then can the participation of only the tribals in the District Council be ensured.
“We will request the GHADC to formulate legislations to bar the non-tribals from participating in the District Council elections and are quite prepared for agitations should they fail to comply with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule. Many of the present members promised the Garo people that they will legislate laws to the effect should they be elected. Now they have been elected. The onus lies on them to fulfil their promise to the Garo people that the GHADC is for the preservation of the indigenous peoples’ tradition, culture, growth and development by allowing only the indigenous people to participate in the GHADC,” the NGOs said.
