JAC urges Govt to address GH issues

Speaking to media persons, adviser of JAC Benny A Sangma said that recently the committee has went to Delhi and met several union minister including Ayush minister, Law and Justice and education minister to discuss on various issues pertaining to Garo Hills region and also to seek justice and speedy investigations by CBI on the incident where two Garo youths from Nagaland had died under mysterious circumstances.

“In lieu of our meeting with several union ministers, today we met the chief minister to apprise him on our visit to Delhi so that the chief minister can take up all these issues pertaining to the Garo Hills region” said Sangma.

Sangma said that they have met the chief minister to discuss on the proposed amendment of sixth schedule and the chief minister has assured that none of the sixth scheduled nomenclature will be amended but the state or the district council will continue as usual and that Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) will be known as Garoland Territorial Council.

“Our view is that we don’t want the existing sixth schedule to be diluted, because we are not depriving any communities as even leaders of smaller sub-tribes of Garo are getting the equal opportunity and in every election during MDC elections, they come up with flying colors” said Sangma.

He added that if six un-represented tribe are allow to nominated by the governor, then the number will be increased more which will be more than Garo communities and since the provisions from the central government has given the state the mandated of sixth schedule for the which will be specifically for the schedule tribes hence the JAC do not want the state government to diluted this provision.

When asked on the recommendation to increase the number of seats in ADC, Sangma said that the JAC welcomed the recommendation as there had been a number of demands in the past as this will allow more financial inclusion from central government which will in turn help in promoting developmental activities in the region.

The adviser of JAC also stated that the JAC had pressed the chief minister to set up competitive examination centers in Garo Hills as till date the region does not have any examination centers be it state or national competitive examination.

By Our Reporter