SHILLONG: The demand to remove other tribes from the list in the Presidential Order 1950 grew louder with the Seng Samla Madanrting, Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People’s (FKJGP) and Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) welcoming the move.
The three organizations extended support to the demand of the Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong, Nongthymmai Pyllun to remove some of the tribes as listed in the Presidential Order 1950 expressing concern on the increasing number of non-indigenous tribes settling in the state of Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned that the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) also supported the demand of the Synjuk.
Addressing the press on Monday, president of Seng Samla Madanrting, Roderick Aldo Rajee expressed concern on the growing number of non-indigenous tribes who are settling in and around Madanrting.
Stating that the issue has to be addressed, he said, “The increasing number of non-indigenous people will pose potential threat to the indigenous tribals of Meghalaya. They have started to dominate and we urged the state government to take notice. The tribals from other states are enjoying ST status here in our state.”
The three organizations demanded to de-notify the other tribals in the list and allow only Khasi Jaintia and Garo – the three main tribes in Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, an FKJGP member Wilfred Kharumniud, said many shops were occupied by other tribals.
Asked, Rajee said, “It is not too late to oppose, there is still time if the government takes serious notice.”
It may be recalled the Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong, Nongthymmai Pyllun requested the government to act and to take up the matter with the Center to amend the list of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste in the Presidential order applicable in the state of Meghalaya.
They asked the government to adopt a concrete methodology and issue guidelines to detect the Scheduled Tribes who migrate from other states so that the rights of the indigenous tribes of Meghalaya would not be encroached and affected.