SHILLONG: Garo residents of Shillong conducted a meeting here to discuss steps to be taken to preserve and protect the social customs and usages of the Garo community. Issues pertaining to participation of non-tribals in the election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), empowerment by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to frame and amend rules with regards to qualifications for voting in elections and qualifications for being elected in the elections as members of the Council were discussed during the meeting.
The meeting also discussed on amendments of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951 barring members other than the Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya from taking part in the election of the District Council.
In this connection, members have decided to form a body and to press the GHADC to amend the provisions and to disqualify the members other than ST in the elections to the GHADC.
