Will verify each permit issued henceforth, says party
GUWAHATI: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has reiterated that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council should effectively implement the Trading by Non-Tribals Regulation, 1954 to protect the interests of the indigenous population of Meghalaya.
KHNAM maintained that the council should limit the number of trading licenses issued to non-tribals by strictly adhering to all sections of the regulation and that the party would henceforth be “verifying” every licence issued.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Thursday, Thomas Passah, the president of KHNAM state youth wing, said the party will be keeping a close eye on the licence issuance process.
“Henceforth each licence issued will be verified by us, because we want things to change and administration should be as per provision of the law of the land,” Passah said.
KHNAM also maintained that the criteria for qualification to be a permanent resident in Meghalaya should be elaborated.
“We are of the opinion that if licenses are given merely on the basis of being a permanent resident without looking at other provisions, the regulation will be ineffective and its core objective defeated,” the KHNAM leader said.
He expressed concern over the issue, saying, “Till date, none have spoken about the limit of trading licences to be fixed by the KHADC on non-tribal trades in a particular place, market, et al in accordance with the provisions of section 10(2) vi of the trading regulation.”
“It is clear and most have accepted that the rules and regulations of the council have been bent or kept aside all these years. Non implementation of many sections has endangered the existence of tribals in the state,” Passah said.
The KHNAM leader further pointed out that there have been instances recently where pressure groups have closed down shops at Iewduh owing to non- availability of trading licence or expiry of the licence,
“But it is shocking to see that the shops re-open only after two hours. Now the question is, is it possible for the traders to obtained licence or to renew their licence in two hours,” he asked.
KHNAM also appealed that the executive committee of KHADC should immediately list out traders violating the regulation and immediately cancel their trading licence or stop issuance of any fresh licence to them.
