SHILLONG, Feb 4: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Tuesday said it wants the extension of tribal areas to non-Sixth Schedule areas including areas falling under the municipality and the Shillong Cantonment Board (SCB).
Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Opposition leader, Titosstarwell Chyne told The Shillong Times the UDP wants the non-Sixth Schedule areas falling under the European Ward, including Police Bazaar, and the Jhalupara area, which falls under the SCB, to be declared as tribal areas.
He said if the entire area in the European Ward or the SCB is not declared as a tribal area, the UDP would like to see that the various laws of the KHADC are applied to allow the council to regulate trading by the non-tribals in all commercial areas.
Chyne, who is the Sohra MDC, said the UDP has already held a preliminary discussion on the matter with different political parties of the council.
He disclosed that all 30 MDCs of the House endorsed the proposal on the expansion of the tribal areas.
“This will be one of our top agenda if we manage to form the Executive Committee (EC) after the election. We will also try to urge the Centre to consider the expansion of the tribal areas,” Chyne said.
Earlier, KHADC Chief Executive Member, Pyniaid Sing Syiem had stated that the NPP-led EC proposed to urge the Centre to consider the expansion of the Sixth Schedule areas.
According to him, the proposal figured in the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Syiem had stated that Chyne and former Deputy CEM PN Syiem are following this up very closely.
He said they would like to see that there are no municipal areas and all non-Sixth Schedule areas under the KHADC’s jurisdiction come under the purview of the Sixth Schedule.
Syiem added that they are also seeking an amendment to Para 12 (A) of the Constitution to ensure that there is no clash or conflict between the state government and the Autonomous District Councils.
He said the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, which includes the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule, is likely to be introduced in the ongoing budget session in the Parliament.
“It will be a big achievement for the people of Meghalaya and the other states in the Northeast where the provisions of Sixth Schedule are applicable,” he said.
According to him, they proposed many provisions to further strengthen the district councils including direct funding under Article 280 of the Finance Commission.
