SHILLONG: The Joint Action Committee Kynhun Peitngor and CSWO (I) have sent a joint petition to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh urging him to empower the autonomous district councils in the State by giving them full powers so as to allow them to fulfill their duties, functions and obligations as assigned to them.
In a memorandum submitted to the Union Minister recently, the two organizations asked him to give due recognition to the traditional institutions and allow them to perform and govern over areas under their jurisdiction in conformity with age old customs and traditions as handed down by the predecessors.
They also said the tribal population should in no way be denied the right of ownership over their land and natural resources and the Central government together with the district councils, with due respect to the Constitution, should put in place proper mining policies with special provision for protecting and preserving the environment as well as safeguarding the rights of the people.
They also demanded that the Central government should issue directions to the district councils to secure and demarcate their respective boundaries so that people living along the inter-state border areas are not harassed.
