By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 22: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) on Friday urged Chief Secretary DP Wahlang to direct issuing authorities to strictly follow the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines of 1975 and 1977 when granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates.
Speaking to reporters after submitting a petition, KHNAM working president Thomas Passah also called on central institutions to ensure that ST quotas in Meghalaya are reserved exclusively for indigenous permanent residents of the state, namely Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities.
Passah further urged the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to amend the ST list for Meghalaya as outlined in the Presidential Order of 1950.
He also pressed for mechanisms to allow complaints against individuals with doubtful ST status and for the cancellation of such certificates after proper verification.
Appreciating the BSF’s special recruitment drive for ST candidates in Meghalaya, Passah requested the Chief Secretary to communicate with BSF authorities to ensure that only Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes are considered eligible, in line with the MHA’s guidelines.
