By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 25: KHADC Leader of Opposition, Titosstarwell Chyne has stressed that the Centre will not take the concerns of the Northeast’s microscopic tribal communities seriously unless all stakeholders present a united and collective voice.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chyne said minority tribes across the region continue to fear being outnumbered, overpowered, or exploited by larger communities, making protective mechanisms such as the Sixth Schedule, Inner Line Permit (ILP), and similar safeguards essential.
He pointed out that this concern is shared by tribes across Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya, where longstanding demands—including the implementation of ILP in Meghalaya—remain unresolved despite an official resolution passed by the State Legislative Assembly.
Chyne emphasised that the time has come for political parties, pressure groups, and student bodies to rise above differences and speak in one voice. Without unity, he said, the Centre is unlikely to give due weight to the issues affecting the region’s indigenous populations.
Meanwhile, Chyne informed that tribal autonomous councils of the Northeast have decided to jointly write to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to remind the Centre about the long-pending demand for Sixth Schedule reforms.
He recently attended a national seminar organised by the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, which brought together autonomous councils, constitutional experts, parliamentarians, and organisations from across the region.
The seminar called for immediate action on the promised reforms and deliberated on the incomplete implementation of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord.
Chyne expressed disappointment with the lack of progress despite assurances from the Union Home Minister over a year ago. The absence of visible results, he said, has created growing concern among tribal communities.
The former KHADC CEM added that the Delhi seminar reinforced the need for all tribal autonomous councils to remain united in pursuing their constitutional rights and ensuring that long-standing commitments are honoured by the Centre.
