SHILLONG, April 30: A 14-member delegation of the KHADC led by Chief Executive Member (CEM) Titosstarwell Chyne has returned from Tripura after a three-day visit starting April 25.
The objective of the visit was to understand the functioning of the TTAADC and interact with the indigenous leaders from Tripura. The TTAADC delegation was led by CEM Purna Chandra Jamatia.
KHADC CEM Chyne urged the TTAADC to safeguard the rights of the Khasi-Pnar population in Tripura, especially in matters related to land ownership.
Chyne emphasised that the Khasi-Pnar people have rights over land as they are recognised as one of the tribes in Tripura.
He also asked the TTAADC to preserve their social custom, culture and traditional practices including their rights over the land.
The KHADC delegation was briefed about how the TTAADC has given special recognition to the Khasi-Pnar people who reside in Tripura. IT was informed that life-size statues of Khasi men and women in their traditional attire have been installed in museum.
The KHADC delegation visited a village in Gollackpur, which is about 5km away from Khumulwng, where the Khasi-Pnar population resides. They were accompanied by officials of the TTAADC and Unakoti district administration of Tripura.
The locals were grateful and emphatic at the arrival of KHADC officials.
It may be mentioned that the KHADC delegates’ visit to the Khasi-Pnar-occupied village in Tripura has been dubbed as the first contact by the community since their forefathers migrated to Tripura between 1940 and 1970.
The delegates met Waheh Shnong of the village, Director Pohthmi, and were also felicitated by the villagers.
Around 29 families live in the village and they belong to Dkhar and Pohtmi clans, who are originally from War Jaintia.
Chyne also pushed for Khasi language to be taught in schools with the TTAADC.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of TTAADC, Budhilian Hrangkhawl assured that the Council will provide all possible support to the Khasi-Pnar population. The TTAADC is trying to set up schools in the village and strengthen the functioning of the Waheh Shnong.
The KHADC delegation then visited Balichera village where around 11 Khasi-Pnar families live. Majority of them belong to Paslein and Swer clan. The 11 families were excited to see their own people visiting them.
The KHADC CEM advised youths to work closely with the TTAADC for their benefit, while assuring support from KHADC.
“We have come here to gain knowledge of the functioning of the Tripura council and also to know measures it has contemplated to protect rights of the tribal people. We would also interact with the council leaders”, Chyne said.
The Deputy CEO of TTAADC, on the other hand, said that the Council will try to provide assistance to the Khasi-Pnar people in terms of employment, education and developmental activities in the village.
It may be mentioned that the regional Tipraha Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance (TIPRA) is governing the TTAADC since its massive win in the 2021 elections to the council.
The TTAADC has presence in state’s partial authority in Tripura’s eight districts. Tripura has only 33% tribal population.
