TURA/SHILLONG, March 30: BJP MDC from Tura, Bernard Marak has mooted the return of the village council which was at the helm of development of Garo Hills since the inception of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The Tura MDC, on Wednesday, moved a resolution to once again bring in the Village Council that would empower the Nokmas and people at the grassroots level to bring in development and administration through active participation.
“After statehood, the Village Councils in GHADC stopped getting funds. Through political pressure, the rural development funds were handed over to the state. The state implemented these funds through the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) which was an agency to implement these. However, through the Agreed Text for Settlement signed between Centre, State and ANVC groups, we wanted these funds to be channelled through the duly elected Rural Local Bodies (Traditional bodies/Institutions) which are commonly known as Village Councils,” said Bernard Marak.
He felt the move would allow the Nokmas to lead the Village Councils in all developmental and administrative works at the village level.
“Nokmas will lead and be the ex officio members. One Laskar area is equivalent to one VC. There are around 257 such institutions which will increase with delimitation. These Councils will empower the public at the grassroots level encouraging local self governance,” he said, while adding that this was a part of the Agreement signed in the Peace Pact in 2014.
The Tura MDC thanked the GHADC House on Tuesday for accepting one of the five motions he moved along with the long-awaited Garo Customary Law (GCL).
“GCL has been passed unopposed again as the previous one has lapsed. I expressed my concern and proposed to get the views and opinions of the Maharis, Nokmas and the 12 tribes of Garos without which GCL is incomplete,” he added.