Tribal rights ignored, say activists

SHILLONG: A group of social activists have alleged “total ignorance” of tribal rights in the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016.
The activists who belong to Bholaganj and its nearby areas in East Khasi Hills alleged there were certain anomalies in the rules that needed to be looked seriously, especially taking into consideration the right of ownership of land which belonged to the indigenous people.
The activists said the rules failed to take into account the tribal rights of individuals and communities while allowing the mining of minerals. They further said the rules should have explicitly stated that without prior consent of the affected community, the proposed mining lease would not be approved.
The activists pointed out that Rule 6 1 (b) was contrary to the Samata judgement where the lease should be granted to an individual or cooperative belonging to the tribal community and that modification of the rule was needed to involve tribal individuals or tribal cooperatives to be eligible for grant of lease.
“There is no mention of a grievance redressal mechanism in case of violation of human rights, rights over land and illegal mining,” an activist said, while maintaining that though the government has prohibited mining operations within 50 metres of public works there was no mention of villages of habitations which are vulnerable to blasting and quarrying.