Our Bureau
TURA/SHILLONG, March 11: A conglomerate of civil society organisations from Garo Hills on Wednesday urged the state government to acknowledge and notify the decision of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) that makes a Scheduled Tribe certificate mandatory for all candidates contesting the MDC elections.
In a joint representation addressed to District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong, the organisations requested that the notification issued by the GHADC on February 17 be published in the Meghalaya Gazette at the earliest.
The organisations said that the tribal community in Garo Hills has long advocated protecting the powers and autonomy granted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. They maintained that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule should apply only to bona fide STs residing within the jurisdiction of the autonomous district councils.
They stated that the GHADC has been an exception among autonomous councils in the country, claiming that members of the Bengali-speaking Muslim non-tribal community had been contesting the MDC elections in the council for years.
According to the CSOs, the recent notification issued by the Chief Executive Member of the GHADC mandating the submission of ST certificates for candidates seeking to contest MDC elections has been widely welcomed by the tribal population of the Garo Hills.
They said the measure was viewed as an attempt to restore the spirit and intent of the Sixth Schedule as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.
The organisations further urged the state government to ensure that the notification is formally published in the Meghalaya Gazette, stating that this would help safeguard the rights of tribal communities and ease tensions between tribal and non-tribal groups in the Garo Hills region.
The representation was submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills by a coalition of organisations, including the Association for Democracy and Empowerment, A•chik Holistic Awakening Movement, A•chik Youth Welfare Organisation, Federation for A•chik Freedom, Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People, and the Garo Students’ Union.
The influential Mothers’ Union of Tura has also appealed to the state government to ensure the early publication of the legislation passed by the GHADC, making ST certificates mandatory for candidates contesting council elections.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the organisation said that while it understands the intent of the legislation to protect tribal interests, the issue has generated hostility among certain non-tribal communities, particularly in the plain belt areas.
The Mothers’ Union said the legislation should follow proper procedures and receive the Governor’s assent so that the rights of the indigenous Garo people are protected, as provided under the Sixth Schedule.
It further highlighted concerns over the situation in the plains belt, stating that these areas have witnessed demographic changes and an alleged influx of people from neighbouring countries, leading to alienation of land, threats to indigenous rights and cultural preservation, and environmental degradation.
The union also urged the government to engage with all stakeholders to build consensus on the issue while safeguarding the rights and interests of the Garo community.
It further said that if the state government shows the necessary willpower, it could facilitate the publication of the notification at the earliest.
