TURA: Several NGOs from Tikrikilla region in West Garo Hills have alleged that traders from Assam at Tikrikilla Market are easily acquiring trading licences illegally from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
In their complaint to the Executive member in charge of taxation, organisations from the region like the All A’chik Youth Federation, A’chik Youth Welfare Organisation and the All Garo People’s Federation claimed that a recent checking of trading licence in the market revealed that many permanent residents of Assam had licences issued by the GHADC.
“We are shocked by the development and wonder how the council can go against the interests of the indigenous people of Meghalaya. It is also a surprise that they have received help from some people to prepare the TNT (Trading for Non-tribals licence). We fear that if we conduct the same inspection of other markets, it will be the same story in almost all areas,” the organisations said.
In order to prevent further anomalies, the groups requested the GHADC to immediately depute an employee to conduct spot inspections at Tikrikilla and Nidanpur markets and to cancel the illegal licences.
