SHILLONG, March 6: BJP Meghalaya vice president and Tura MDC Bernard Marak has asserted that only communities listed under the Scheduled Tribes category are the rightful representatives in institutions created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and that people from plains should not claim representation in hill tribal bodies.
In a statement, Marak said the hill districts represent the identity of the hill people and the Sixth Schedule was specifically designed to safeguard the interests of tribal communities. He maintained that allowing people from the plains to occupy positions in Sixth Schedule institutions would defeat the very purpose of the constitutional provision.
According to Marak, the Sixth Schedule was incorporated in the Constitution to protect hill tribes from more advanced classes residing in the plains who, he added, historically looked down upon tribal communities as “uncivilised, backward and rude tribes”.
He said the provisions of the Sixth Schedule were intended to protect and safeguard tribal land, identity, culture, rights, traditions and customary practices.
Referring to the history of Garo Hills, Marak said the region had witnessed conflicts with zamindars from the plains who attempted to impose taxes, grab land and intrude into tribal areas, while also attempting to dilute tribal identity and manipulate legal provisions meant to safeguard hill people. He further claimed that the population of people from the plains in the region has increased over time due to migration from Bangladesh and other states.
While acknowledging the presence of bona fide residents of Garo Hills, Marak alleged that some have begun claiming rights meant exclusively for tribal communities, including land rights.
Marak stated that land is a key cultural identity of the Scheduled Tribes and is reserved for hill tribes alone.
Pointing out that Garo Hills was recognised as a hill district in 1869, he said that only tribes included in the Scheduled Tribes list are eligible to represent people in the autonomous district councils.
He also referred to historical regulations such as Regulation X and the Garo Hills Act introduced during the British Raj to safeguard tribal communities, adding that these protections were later incorporated into the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Marak further alleged that plains people have continued to intrude into tribal areas and violate tribal rights, often with political support.
He also raised concerns over the leasing of land in Garo Hills through periodic pattas issued by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) under the Assam Schedule, claiming there is no clear record of its official adoption by the council.
According to Marak, the issuance of such periodic pattas has allowed plains people, including illegal migrants, to obtain land rights in areas governed under the Sixth Schedule.
