SHILLONG, June 22: The Dorbar ki Waheh Kur Ri Jaintia, along with several pressure groups and traditional bodies, has threatened to launch an agitation if the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) fails to withdraw a recent notification recognising certain clans under the Biate and Khelma Sakachep (Hadem) tribes.
The organisations have set June 30 as the deadline for the JHADC Executive Committee to respond, warning that failure to do so will lead to a democratic agitation beginning July 2. The decision was taken during a meeting in Jowai on Saturday, attended by representatives of the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), Jaintia National Council (JNC), Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM), War Jaintia Students’ Union (WJSU), Synjuk Waheh Chnong Ri Jaintia, and various clan leaders.
In a joint resolution, the groups criticised the JHADC Executive Committee, headed by Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, for prioritising the recognition of clans from patrilineal communities. They alleged that the council has neglected long-pending demands regarding the regulation of the traditional matrilineal lineage system of the Jaintia community. The groups demanded the immediate suspension of the June 11 notification, which recognised 12 clans under the Biate tribe and 10 clans under the Khelma Sakachep (Hadem) tribe as eligible for Scheduled Tribe status.
The resolution urged the JHADC to establish proper rules and legal provisions for the recognition of Jaintia clans before implementing such notifications. The organisations maintained that the issue concerns the protection of Jaintia customary practices and identity, calling on the council to address these concerns before proceeding further.
