SHILLONG: John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Govt of Meghalaya, and Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, attended a gathering of over one thousand delegates at the South India Tribal Union meet in Chennai on Sunday to deliberate on the problems of the Scheduled Tribes in South India and the country as a whole.
The conference was addressed by Ajit Jogi, MP and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, who expressed his support to the 1.04 per cent ST population in Tamil Nadu.
In his address, Kharshiing congratulated the organisers and said that he recalled his first meeting with tribal leaders of Tamil Nadu in 2012 which was beginning to show results as the tribal population of South India was realizing the importance of having a network to express their realities before the State and central authorities.
He expressed support to their resolutions especially the need to amend Article 338 and also called for their support to demand from the NDA Government to ensure quick legislation and passing of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Bill in the upcoming session.
Among the resolutions passed were implementation and amendment of SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Bill, strengthening and amendment of NCST under Article 338 & 338A, Constitution of NCST at the state level, promotion of cultural and study exchange programmes between tribal groups of India including the North East, setting up of tribal residential hostels and to urge for special sports infrastructure and scholarships for tribal youths in tribal villages and districts.
