By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 29: The Opposition VPP on Thursday urged the House to adopt a resolution to appeal the Union government to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to exclude STs of other states, in keeping with the actual demographics of Meghalaya.
Moving a resolution in this regard, VPP MLA Adelbert Nongrum said that the Presidential Order of 1950, made under Article 342 of the Constitution of India, listed the Khasi and Garo tribes under Part II in Assam that also includes the Chakma, Dimasa, Hajong, Hmar, Kuki, Lakher, Man, Mizo, Naga and Pawi tribes.
When the 1950 Order was amended by an Act of Parliament in 1976, the list of tribes in Part II (Assam) remained more or less the same and a new Part XI was added to the Schedule for the then newly-created state of Meghalaya, he said. “Interestingly the tribes listed in Part XI (Meghalaya) were taken from what was listed in Part II (Assam),” he added.
He said further amendment of the 1950 order was necessary since it has a bearing on the legal operation of the Land Transfer Act as well as the State Reservation Policy.
“One exception is with regard to the Kuki sub-tribe of Biate who are uniquely indigenous to Jaintia Hills. There could be a few other tribes or sub-tribes whom I have failed to mention, and these too deserve an exception,” he stated.
He pointed out that Part XI of the Schedule deserves necessary review as Entry number 6 of the list reads as “Khasi, Jaintia, Synteng, Pnar, War, Bhoi, and Lyngngam”.
“Jaintia, Synteng, Pnar have been specified differently. Therefore, this Entry in the List deserves correct substitution as a single sub-tribe, and that too with the correct spelling,” he said.
In his reply, Art and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the department will constitute a committee to study the matter in depth and come up with a final report in the course of three months.
“We will engage with stakeholders and obtain necessary views before finalising the report. We will also engage with the elected members of the House and ADCs to solicit their views. Thereafter, our report will be forwarded to the Registrar General of India and we will duly follow up the matter as per the prescribed procedure,” he said.
Following the assurance of the minister, the VPP MLA withdrew his resolution.