Public rally called on July 22
SHILLONG: A call for an end to inter-community marriages between tribal women and non tribal men, presently commonplace in the Khasi society, was made on Monday by an organisation called the Poor People’s Movement (PPM) which argued that such marriages have caused attrition and deprived the genuineness found in the matrilineal society.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, PPM president Louis Dohtdong said, “We need to preserve the distinct identity of our tribal community and offspring born out of inter-community marriages should have no right over the ST status.”
“We urge the support of the people in our fight to preserve the community. A public rally in this regard will be taken out on July 22,” he added.
Alleging that outsiders are taking advantage of the situation by marrying Khasi girls to make an entry into business, Dohtdong said, “Marrying Khasi girls clears the way for their businesses in the State.”