By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Responding to the call given by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, the breakaway faction of ANVC (ANVC -B) too has decided to join the peace process provided that all the district councils are strengthened with direct funding.
The Chief Minister, recently, in an appeal announced that talks with the parent body, ANVC will be held on Saturday for a final settlement, while urging its break away group, ANVC (B) also to join the peace process.
Welcoming the appeal, the ANVC (B) chief Rimpu Marak said, “We are ready to
join the peace pact if settlement benefits all the three councils of the State.”
According to Marak, looking at the present scenario, the ANVC.B is of the opinion that the common people of the state share the same deprivation of basic needs.
The militant leader said that the “Historic Settlement” should benefit the common man and bring changes at the grassroots.
“We want introduction of democracy at grassroot level and strengthening of governance in villages. There are many areas in our state where civilization has remained static since the Statehood and our concern has risen as our movement acknowledged the fact that all these areas of the state needed equal attention”, Marak said.
According to the militant leader, though the focus has always been the Garo people and the Garo dominated areas, which undoubtedly will continue to
be so, “but in our strive we have seen places in Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills which also need as much attention as Garo Hills”.
He also said the state needs to consider a mechanism which will empower people and bring changes to these areas with direct funding from the central government.
Marak pointed out that 80% of the total population of the state are struggling everyday against various odds. . “Our people and our areas are our priorities, however the same benefits should flow down to all the councils of the State as today we are not looking at cessation, but rather we want to be partners in productive development”, the militant leader said.
According to Marak, besides strengthening the councils, a mechanism which will empower the common man and allow direct flow of funds to the grassroots through village governance is the need of the hour”.
ANVC hopeful of honourable settlement: Meanwhile, the ANVC, currently under ceasefire, has said that the militant outfit is hopeful of an honourable settlement at the earliest.
Welcoming the Government’s move, the publicity secretary of the outfit, Arist Sangma said that though agenda was yet to be known, the ANVC is open to discuss various suggestions to be placed by the Government.