TURA: The Codification of the Garo Customary Law Bill 2009, which will now be fundamental in determining one’s tribal status, was passed by the GHADC House on Wednesday after majority of the MDCs cutting across party lines stood up in support of the Bill.
As many as 18 out of the 29 MDCs voted in favour of the Bill that will become an Act after the governor approves it. None of the MDCs present in the house opposed the bill when asked by the chairman.
Placing the Bill before the House, the Council’s Chief Executive Member (CEM), Denang T. Sangma, termed the event as historic and said never before in the history of the GHADC’s 65 years of existence was such a crucial legislation placed.
“This bill is in the interest of our Garo tribe and our future generation,” said the CEM.
However, there were disgruntled voices from both the ruling and the opposition benches over the haste with which the bill was being passed.
Senior NPP MDC and Deputy Chairman Mettrinson G. Momin of Darugre constituency in Rongjeng said more time should be taken to review the codification bill before voting for it. He called for a special session to discuss, debate and vote on the bill.
Congress MDC Stevie Marak echoed similar views.
Replying to this demand, the CEM said unless the bill was passed in this session it would continue to be delayed and affect the future generation of Garos.
“The bill has been reviewed more than 40 times by the review committee and suggestions and ideas from cross-section of the Garo community have been taken into account before preparing the Bill. Sufficient time has been given for the Bill,” said the CEM.
Raising a question about the status of the non-Garos who married into the tribe and their children, the Congress MDC said, “What will happen to those already part of the Garo society? Will their tribal (ST) status be removed? There is no mention in the bill.”
However, Dipul R. Marak of the NPP had earlier pointed out to the contents of the bill which mention that only after commencement of the Act will the bill be effective.
When the time came for voting almost all the MDCs on the ruling alliance stood in support of the bill’s passage. The non-tribal members abstained from voting.
From the opposition camp, as many as four MDCs gave their support to the bill.
Crucial points of Bill
® On or commencement of the Act, every person born of a legal marriage whose parent are or were both Garo or A’chik or Mande shall have the right to take Garo or A’chik or Mande Ma’cxhong-Ma’bipek’s chatchi as per Customary Law, Traditions and Usages.
® Any person who is born of a non-Garo mother and a Garo father is not a Garo or A’chik even if he/she takes the Ma’chong-Ma’bipek’s Chatchi of his/her father.
® Any person who is born of a non-Garo father and a Garo mother is not a Garo or A’chik even if he/she takes the Ma’chong-Ma’bipek’s Chatchi of his/her mother.
® Any person born of a Garo father and a Garo mother but takes the Ma’chong-Ma’bipek’s Chatchi of his/her father is not a Garo or A’chik as per Garo Customary Law.