Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 17: A delegation from Garo Hills representing various tribal organizations from Meghalaya today called on Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed issues concerning them. They also presented a memorandum listing their demands. The organizations represented in the delegation included the Hajongs, Rabhas, Koches, Boro-Kacharies and Manns tribes.
The main demand taken up by the delegation pertained to the reservation of 10 seats for these tribes in Garo Hill Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Tura, Meghalaya and nomination of some members to the Council. They also demanded nomination of one Tribal Joanbura (Village Headman) to the Council.
The other main demands put forward included job reservation in the Garo Hill Autonomous Council for other tribes and implementation of para 1 (2) of the 6th Schedule for creation of an “Autonomous District Council” for indigenous tribes like Hajongs, Rabhas, Koches, Boro-Kacharies and Manns.
The memorandum further complained that the stakeholders who have so far been invited for discussion regarding the amendment of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution in respect of strengthening the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, have mostly been from the three tribal communities of the Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos. It is requested that the views of the other communities should also be invited and incorporated.
Dr Jitendra Singh gave a patient hearing to the members of the delegation. He said, since the issues raised by the delegation went outside the purview of the Ministry of DoNER, he would therefore, take up their issues with the other concerned Ministries including the the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Minority Affairs, and also forward the memorandum submitted to him to these Ministries.
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