SHILLONG, April 30: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) have resolved to bring all the autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the Northeast under one umbrella to impress upon the Centre the need to provide special protection to the tribal communities of the region.
The decision was taken during a meeting held at the headquarters of the TTAADC at Khumulwng recently.
The KHADC was represented by its CEM, Titosstarwell Chyne and executive members Martle N. Mukhim, Grace Mary Kharpuri, Teiborlang Pathaw, Mitchell Wankhar and Rangkynsai Kharbuki, along with officers of the council.
The TTAADC was represented by its CEM Purna Chandra Jamatia, Executive Member Kamal Kalai, Chief Executive Officer Chandra Kumar Jamatia, adviser Capt. GS Rathee, additional CEO Shankar Debnath, Deputy CEO Budhilian Hrangkhawl and others.
Later, the resolution was highlighted during a meeting held at the TTAADC Park.
Tipra Motha Party (TMP) MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, Animesh Debbarman also attended the meeting.
While speaking at the meeting, TMP president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl recalled that (L) Prof. George Gilbert Swell was the chief architect behind the implementation of the Sixth Schedule in Tripura to give special protection to the tribes of the state.
Hrangkhawl also recalled that there was an attempt to do away with the ST status for the tribes in Tripura.
Addressing the meeting, the KHADC CEM admitted that attempts have always been made to take away the special status and recognition of the tribes in the region by “outside forces”.
He said that it is unfortunate that there are attempts to infringe upon the functioning of the council whether it is through concerns over protection of land, culture, judiciary and even the laws passed by the council.
Chyne suggested that there is a need for the ADCs to deliberate properly on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
Executive Member of TTAADC, Kamal Kalai stressed on the importance of dialogues between the various ADCs of the region.
He expressed happiness over the inputs and suggestions from the KHADC on laws pertaining to protection of the land.
Kalai also said that they are planning to erect a bust of (L) JJM Nichols Roy, the chief architect of the Sixth Schedule, on the TTAADC office premises.
Debbarman stressed that the ADCs should appeal Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to give special protection to the various tribes of the Northeast.
