‘Gaon Bura commands high respect in Arunachal’

Itanagar: State Home Minister Tanga Byaling on Wednesday said the ‘Gaon Bura’ institution, set up under Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation 1945, commanded high respect in the tribal society of Arunachal Pradesh.
Addressing over 500 ‘gaon buras’ and ‘gaon buris’ (village heads) of state’s total 9,500 during their foundation day here on Wednesday, Byaling expressed concern over the fading away of customary laws, and said the Constitution framed in 1947 by Dr Ambedkar included the GBs’ powers.
He stressed on reviving and popularising traditional laws to eradicate prevalent social evils, communal living with harmony besides documenting for survival.
He announced a guest house-cum-office and assured the the four-point memorandum of Gaon-Buras demanding enhancement of honourarium would be taken up in the cabinet.
“You (GBs) are the government representatives in every village for which you have been appointed with powers,” lawmaker Pani Taram as guest of honour said.
Free electricity and colour TV to all GBs as promised would continue, Taram said and advocated an in-depth research through an expert team in 189 circles of 20 districts for documentation in response to demand for codification of customary laws.
He announced a member of each GB family would be absorbed in GoAP to the thunderous applause of the gathering.SC Chief Justice A S Anand had said while inaugurating the Itanagar permanent bench of Gauhati HC here in 2000 that “Customary laws are important”.
He had dispelled apprehension about any threat to customary laws, saying the HC would pave the way to blend the good aspects of traditional laws for assimilation with the statutory and codified laws. (PTI)