The amendments to the Sixth Schedule as proposed by the Centre haves raised a lot of heat and dust. The minor tribes that are sought to be included in the proposed amendment were never part of the larger Garo family. They include Boros, Hajongs, Koch among others. The autonomous councils were created to enable the tribals, then part of the larger state of Assam, to preserve their customs and traditions and their indigenous systems of governance. The debates in the Constituent Assembly at the time were remarkably succinct. Rev JJM Nichols Roy was able to enlist empathizers to support his cause for demand of the Sixth Schedule which was vehemently opposed by political stalwarts like Rohini Kumar Choudhury who felt that this would balkanize India and hinder the nation building project of a new and independent country. Thankfully Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution saw merit in granting the Sixth Schedule status to the tribes of Assam then.
In the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills only the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes were recognised as indigenous to the area. Smaller tribes like the Boros, Koch Hajongs etc., never figured in the list of tribes then. But they are now asserting their right to be included in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) because they claim that they enjoy the Schedule Tribe status. In fact they have been contesting the legislative assembly elections from the seats reserved for schedule tribes. As long as the minor tribes were contesting the Assembly elections there was not much protest. But now these minor tribes also want to be part of the autonomous council by virtue of their tribal status. Assertions by former MLA and minister, KC Boro now a BJP leader in Garo Hills that all minor tribes should not only be included in the GHADC but also be allowed to contest elections is becoming a contentious matter which needs to be deftly handled by the Central and State Government. Boro’s audacious claims are that the plain belts of Garo Hills from Mendipathar up to Dalu via Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Rajaballa, Ampati and Mahendraganj should be handed over to Assam. This is a dangerous attempt to divide the state of Meghalaya for short term political gains. Boro is obviously creating a vote bank for himself and is also taking advantage of the fact that he is now part of the BJP – the party ruling the country today. This does not bode well for Meghalaya.