From Our Correspondent
TURA, March 8: Independent candidates contesting the election for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) recently launched the Garo Hills Independent Candidate Movement Forum (GHICMF) at the Burny Hills Tree House in Tura.
The forum aims to improve the GHADC and conserve the customs and traditions of the A.chik tribal community. During the meeting, the candidates jointly declared a nine-point manifesto focusing on the protection of A.chik land and the welfare of the people.
Forum leaders noted they decided to step forward because they could no longer tolerate mismanagement and wrongful actions within the council. “GHADC is one of the most important institutions that protect the laws, customs, and traditions of the A.chik people. However, in the last 73 years, no ruling group has been able to fully pass the Garo Customary Law (GCL). This has become a serious concern for our community,” the candidates said.
The forum also announced several key priorities they plan to tackle. These include passing and legally protecting the Garo Customary Law (GCL), establishing a separate voting system for tribal people, and properly preparing and correcting the voter list.
They also aim to create financial rules to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of council funds, establish service rules for council employees, and form a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to monitor financial records. Additional goals involve introducing digital payment systems for salaries and other council payments, revoking the Transfer of Land and Revenue Act, 1976 (Mouza No. VI) to protect the traditional laws and rights of the A.chik people, and clearly demarcating boundaries to secure the parameters of the District Council.
The seven independent candidates who came together to form the movement are Chusrang R. Sangma of Silkigre, Tengrang A. Momin of Jengjal, Clinton R. Marak of Rongrikkimgre, Jepprin D. Sangma of Raksamgre, Noresh M. Sangma of Wagesik, Sengkan A. Sangma of Raksamgre and Chesrang Ch. Marak of Asananggre.
