Garo group seeks separate Council for tribe in Assam

TURA: A Garo organisation in Assam, having several units in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region, have decided to press forward the demand for a separate Council for the Garo community living in Assam on the grounds that other tribes residing in the region have been given such privileges.
“We, want to ask the BJP-led Assam government to acknowledge the presence of our Garo community who have lived for generations in the region by setting up the autonomous council for Garos,” said the All A’chik Youth federation’s Assam zone president, Crossbell Marak. The organisation cited the example of the creation of separate councils for the Mesing, Tiwa, Sonowal tribes in Majuli district and called for the same for the Garos of Assam.
“Many of our fore fathers have sacrificed their life for freedom from the British government and we question as to why the Assam government has diluted the contribution of the Garo people. While our Boro brothers are the largest tribal population, the Garo community is the second largest tribal population in Assam,” revealed Marak in a communique.
The AAYF also clarified that the demand for a separate council is to ensure the tribe’s culture, language and tradition are preserved.
“We have a long history in Assam and have been living here since before British rule. We demand the Assam government to take immediate action regarding the demand of the Garo community.
“We are the majority community in Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) but we are not getting any development from the RHAC. Six tribes, Mising, Rabha,Tiwa, Deori, Sonowal Kachari and Tangal Kachari were accorded Autonomous Council so why not the Garos,” questioned the AAYF.