By Our Reporter
TURA, Sep 28: Nokmas from A’kings under South West Garo Hills recently held a meeting at the Damalgre unit of the Nokma Council Office to discuss and condemn the data collection/survey being undertaken by the government under the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI).
The meeting strongly observed that the survey under PAI is conducted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to review central government projects implemented through agencies such as the Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayati Samiti (block level) and Zila Parishad (district level).
However, the Nokmas asserted that the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution guarantees that the same is not applicable in tribal states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, where development should be carried out through the Autonomous District Councils.
“Survey under PAI cannot be done in Sixth Schedule areas as there are already Autonomous District Councils. Our lands belong to the various clans which are looked after by the Nokma. Only the District Council has records of our lands and not the Panchayati Raj,” they stated.
The Nokmas added that if the survey of development initiatives in their areas is to be undertaken, it should be carried out by the GHADC and not the Panchayati Raj.
Meanwhile, the meeting, while condemning the alleged illegal move by the government, resolved to write to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on the issue.
