SHILLONG, Feb 18: As the election campaign for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) is reaching its final stretch, the Ka Synjuk Ki Rangbah Kur Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep has urged tribal voters to remain vigilant in protecting their indigenous roots.
The working president of the organisation, Erwin Sutnga in a media briefing urged that candidates must uphold the traditional matrilineal system and work towards safeguarding indigenous rights.
“We are here to remind our tribal voters that they have a responsibility to protect the foundations of our matrilineal society,” he stated. Expressing concern over campaign narratives that suggest individuals should be able to inherit clan rights from either their mother’s or father’s side, he said, “This goes against the grain of our traditional system, which recognises ‘tang jait’ and ‘ka khatduh’ (degrees of separation) in kinship. Any candidate or party supporting such a violation must be carefully reconsidered by the people before casting their votes.”
The organisation also stressed that elected Members of District Councils (MDCs) must have a deep understanding of the Sixth Schedule, which guarantees constitutional protection for tribal lands, customs, and governance structures.
He pointed out that the upcoming term of the MDCs will be crucial, as the 125th Constitutional Amendment which proposes strengthening the Sixth Schedule is still pending.
Expressing disappointment over the lack of focus on pressing social issues, they criticised political parties for failing to address rising drug addiction and HIV prevalence in the region. “With all the mudslinging and counter-allegations in this campaign, no candidate has taken a strong stand against the growing drug menace. This is a serious issue, especially among our youth,” Sutnga said.
He said that community-driven efforts such as vigilance committees and local governance reforms, as initiated under previous administrations, have played a key role in combating these challenges.
Article 371 debate
Touching upon the recent debate surrounding Article 371, which provides special provisions for certain northeastern states, the leader acknowledged growing constitutional challenges, particularly in Nagaland and Mizoram.
“In Nagaland, even senior advisors to the government have questioned its effectiveness. The recent High Court ruling on municipal elections contradicts traditional village governance systems, creating fresh conflicts,” he said.
However, he argued that the Sixth Schedule remains a more comprehensive solution for tribal self-governance. “Yes, there are weaknesses, but these can be rectified through the proposed 125th Amendment. That is why we need elected representatives who understand the urgency of this matter,” he mentioned.
