By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 15: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has called on the state government to immediately restore internet services in Garo Hills and provide additional support to families affected by recent storms and hailstorms across the state.
Marak noted that while severe weather has left many families in distress, the ongoing internet shutdown is preventing victims from applying for relief. Essential requirements, such as geo-tagging and uploading photographs for online applications, cannot be completed, and the closure of government offices has further hampered the process. He specifically highlighted the situation in Chibinang, stating that relief camps in the area require urgent assistance. Marak also pointed out that the lack of connectivity has hindered the public’s ability to contribute financially toward relief materials.
Affected residents have been advised to contact their respective Block offices and Village Employment Council secretaries to register for relief and necessary support.
Call for tribal unity
Marak, on the other hand, has called for unity within tribal society to oppose the demands of illegal migrants seeking rights equivalent to Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Marak argued that land, language, and traditional practices form the core of tribal identity, which outsiders cannot claim. He contended that the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) were specifically established to protect indigenous communities from external encroachment.
“They want to dominate us and seek representation in the ADC, which was constituted to protect tribals from them. They are not even permanent residents but are merely living on periodic leased land of the GHADC,” Marak claimed.
Referring to a High Court order concerning Paragraphs 8 and 128 of the Sixth Schedule, Marak alleged that certain political parties have exploited these legal provisions to “illegally legalize” the presence of outsiders through unfair means.
He urged the state government to prioritise the protection of tribal rights above party affiliations to ensure the long-term security of the indigenous population.
