SHILLONG, Jan 29: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) on Wednesday said if it is voted to power in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), it will set up a committee to review and re-examine all trading licences issued to non-tribals to operate their businesses in the council’s jurisdiction.
KHNAM working president Thomas Passah criticised past Executive Committees of the KHADC for viewing the Khasi Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulations, 1954, primarily as a revenue-generating tool rather than a measure to protect the business interests of indigenous tribes.
Talking to reporters after filing his nomination to contest from the Jaiaw constituency in the KHADC polls, Passah lamented that in the past 73 years, no political party in power in the council took any measures to implement the provisions as laid down in the regulations to protect the business interests of local tribals.
“Everyone, who forms the EC in the council, rampantly issues trading licences in the name of generating revenue,” he said.
Earlier, the KHNAM working president had stated that the local tribals are struggling to survive while competing with non-tribal businessmen.
“We need to ensure that trading licences are not issued when our own people are capable of taking up the businesses,” Passah had stated.
He added that if KHNAM becomes a part of the ruling dispensation in the council after the elections, it will establish a committee to review and re-examine all trading licences issued by the council.
Meanwhile, Passah said the regulations still exist in the district council. He cited that the government does not have any laws to protect the businesses of tribal people in the state.
“We want to assure that we will try to give more teeth to the regulations to protect the interests of the tribal people if we become a part of the EC,” Passah said.
He said the party’s top priority is to revamp and overhaul the KHADC. He alleged that the council has failed to deliver as per the provisions in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
He said the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is the last wall to protect the indigenous community and appealed to people to elect those candidates who deserve to represent them, and not vote on the basis of party or group in a majority.
The other KHNAM candidates who filed nominations were Pynshai Mawrie (Mawkynrew), Ericton Donbok Swer (Nongthymmai) and Raymond P Basaiawmoit (Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah).
