TURA: A delegation of sitting MDCs from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) called on Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at his residence in Tura on Wednesday to submit a memorandum calling for the passing of the codification of Garo Customary Law Bill which is still awaiting assent from the Governor.
The delegation led by Chief Executive Member of GHADC, Dipul Marak, included members of the drafting committee of the bill. Raising the issue of repeated delays for the past many years, the members urged the chief minister to hasten the passing of the bill.
It was in the year 2018 that the Customary Law Bill was passed in the district council following deliberations with various stakeholders and organisations of Garo Hills.
There were opposition from some quarters to the move, particularly the contentious issue of defining a ‘Garo’ or ‘A’chik Mande’ but ultimately all the sitting MDCs voted in support of the bill.
Chairman of the drafting committee of the Customary Law Bill and sitting MDC, Augustine Marak, told media persons on Wednesday that the bill had been passed after due consultation with various sections of the people, including NGOs of Garo Hills.
He said 24 out of 25 NGOs from the region expressed satisfaction and support for the passage of the bill.
“The bill was placed in the House twice to discuss after which all 29 MDCs gave their support to the move. Everyone felt the bill needed to be passed and given the Governor’s assent,” he said.
Augustine added that there was opposition to the bill from certain sections over inter-tribe relations and their offspring as well as division of property. However, he said, there were provisions in the bill to take care of the matters.
Codification of Garo customs is extremely important, as it is expected to move the tribe from oral traditions to a documented one. Currently, almost all tradition, laws and customs within the Garo society are verbal, passing on from generation to generation.
“We need the bill to be given the assent and that is why we met the chief minister today. We sought his help in the matter as the bill is still with the Governor. The Bill needs to be passed quickly as it will, in the future, assist scholars and others alike in understanding the Garo tribe through the written word,” added GHADC CEM, Dipul Marak.
