Centre likely to table proposed amendment of Sixth Schedule: CM

SHILLONG, NOV 30: Meghalaya has been exempted from setting up of the village council and municipal council as per the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule which is likely to be placed before the upcoming winter session of Parliament.

A meeting was chaired by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma with the autonomous district councils (ADCs), traditional institutions and NGOs in the presence of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) joint secretary in-charge North East Satyendra Garg here on Friday.

It was also attended by deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong besides government officials.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said the meeting was a positive one as almost hundred percent of the concerns expressed by the state government, district councils, traditional institutions and other stakeholders have been addressed by the proposed amendment Bill.

Stating that most of the organizations have expressed their satisfaction on the points being taken up, the chief minister also congratulated the MHA for taking due consultations on the matter to ensure the sentiments of the people are incorporated in the amendment bill.

“There is high chance for the amendment Bill if all goes well to be placed in this winter session of the parliament and based on this, there is also a chance that it may even be cleared,” Sangma said.

Asked, MHA joint secretary Satyendra Garg said today’s meeting was a culmination of the discussion and the stakeholders were informed about the final shape of the constitutional amendment which is coming.

“We have told all your concerns have been addressed and we are ready to move to the Cabinet and the Parliament for finalising the amendment,” Garg said while stating that concern on village council and municipal council have also been addressed.

With regards to the proposed increasing the number of seats in the three ADCs – KHADC, JHADC and GHADC, the MHA official said it has been incorporated as has been suggested by the state government.

“We have proposed that seats in the KHADC and GHADC will go up to 40 out of which four will be nominated and two are for women. For the JHADC increase will be from 30 to 34 seats out of which 30 elected and of 4 nominated two will be (reserved) for women,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Indigenous Tribal Constitutional Rights Movement (MITCRM) which comprises of headmen and Ngos expressed hope that the move of the Centre to amend the Sixth Schedule will further strengthen the indigenous communities in the region.

MITCRM spokesman Samuel B Jyrwa told reporters that the MHA official had clarified that the setting up of the village council and municipal council, which the movement had strongly expressed its reservation, will now be exempted from Meghalaya.

“It was also agreed that the election processes in the tribal district councils will remain the same,” Jyrwa said.

He said a paragraph in the proposed amendment which says that the governor will report to the president and that Centre can have a say on the functionings of the ADCs, was also deleted from proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule.

The spokesperson further informed that the movement also welcomed the proposal to increase the number of seats of the tribal district councils and also bringing them under Article 280 of the Constitution of India to avail funding from the Centre’s consolidated fund.

“We also welcome the proposed introduction of the anti-defection law in the ADCs to prevent defection of members and also to disallow holding of dual posts,” he added.

By Our Reporter