Panel formed to pursue minority tribals’ demand

Tura, April 6: A new public committee under the nomenclature of Regional Council Demand Committee (RCDC) was constituted on Saturday, during a special meeting held at Babedpara, West Garo Hills, with the primary objective of intensifying the demand for a Regional Council for the indigenous minority tribals of Meghalaya.
Former minister Dr KC Boro was appointed as the chairman, while Ananda Koch was named general secretary. Dalu MDC Promod Koch was selected as the chairman of the advisory board of the committee. Bhabani Hajong, Dharmeswar Koch, Nabin Boro and Sahadev Rabha were appointed as vice presidents of the committee. The role of assistant general secretaries was entrusted to Rupkumar Boro, Ramcharan Hajong and Sanjay Rabha.
The RCDC has been formed to strengthen the ongoing movement initiated by the Meghalaya Indigenous Minority Tribals Forum (MIMTF) which had submitted a memorandum regarding the demand to the Government of India, the Governor of Meghalaya and the Chairman of the National ST Commission, New Delhi.
The MIMTF represents several indigenous minority tribal communities such as the Hajong, Koch, Rabha, Boro-Kachari, Mann and also the Karbi tribes.
The committee announced that it would work in close coordination with the MIMTF and emphasised that it is a public body, free from politics and party affiliations.
A total of 54 members attended the meeting where the committee was officially constituted.