SHILLONG, JUNE 26: A social movement under the banner ‘PETRAH’- which means Protection and Empowerment of Traditional Rights and Autonomy in the Hills, will soon be launched in Garo Hills to make people aware of their rights.
Announcing this in a statement issued here, ANVC.B former chairman Bernard N Marak said the PETRAH will be a non political movement to strengthen the traditional bodies under the provisions of the Agreed Text of Settlement.
The Agreement was signed between the Government of India, State government and the two disbanded Garo rebel outfits – the ANVC and its breakaway faction, ANVC.B.
Highlighting the objective of the proposed movement, Marak said that the people have forgotten the actual provisions of the Hills areas and the Law of the Land.
“It is time to awaken the people of their rights empowering the traditional Law of the land to prevail in the Hill districts,” he said.
According to him, the people of Garo Hills have faced difficulties in the past till the present day due to lack of knowledge of their own rich heritages, their rights and reservations through the Indian Constitution.
Alleging that there has been a plot by political leaders to blind the Garos of their rights and provisions of the Sixth Schedule, he said, “Garos have lacked behind but it is not too late to educate our people through an awakening movement.”
He added that the history of the Garos was remarkable but it is seldom taught to our children and very few documented records even as rued that the education system does not narrate the eventful past of our fore fathers and the glorious heritage of the Garos.
“PETRAH will aware the people of their past. It will also educate the people of the rights, autonomy, reservations, privileges etc of the people living within the Hill Districts,” Marak stated.
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