Govt forms panel to decide if ‘outsider’ tribals should be stripped of benefits

SHILLONG, July 1: The state government has officially put the 1951 Scheduled Tribe Order under the scanner, forming a high-level committee to decide whether “outsider” tribals from across the Northeast should be stripped of benefits currently reserved for the state’s indigenous communities.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday informed a delegation from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) that a committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, has been constituted to study the legal and social implications of the existing ST Order. The move follows a memorandum submitted by the KSU on June 8, which challenged the parity between indigenous tribes and those from other states.
KSU president Raymond Kharjana, speaking after the meeting, said the union is concerned that the current framework allows tribal communities from other Northeastern states to access the same jobs, medical seats, and welfare benefits as Meghalaya’s indigenous population.
“We have observed that tribal communities from other states are availing themselves of the same privileges as the indigenous people of Meghalaya,” Kharjana said. “This requires careful scrutiny to protect the opportunities meant for our own youth.”
At the centre of the debate is the distinction between a centrally recognised “Scheduled Tribe” and an “indigenous tribe” of Meghalaya. While the 1951 Order grants ST status to various groups across the region, the KSU argues that state-specific quotas should be restricted to those native to the state, rather than being shared with Naga, Mizo, or Bodo candidates.
The newly formed committee has been tasked with examining the eligibility of non-indigenous tribal communities and recommending changes to the current system. While welcoming the probe, the KSU stated it would monitor the committee’s findings closely to ensure the protection of indigenous rights.