SHILLONG, SEPT 5: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today constituted a sub-committee to prepare the draft memorandum to be submitted to the Centre and state governments on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the KHADC chief PN Syiem with a host of representatives from the eight NGOs and traditional headmen of the region held here on Tuesday.
The meeting was also attended by executive members (EMs) of the ruling People Democratic Forum (PDF) led executive committee in the KHADC.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Syiem said, “We have unanimously resolved to submit a single memorandum to the both the Centre and state governments on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.”
He said a sub-committee was also constituted for drafting the proposed memorandum after taking the views and opinions of all stakeholders into consideration.
“We have also decided to study the Annexed Agreement and the Standstill Agreement to ensure that our proposal will be in the spirit of these agreements,” he said.
The Meghalaya Indigenous Tribal Constitutional Rights Movement (MITCRM), a conglomeration of NGOs, traditional headmen and others which have been taking up the matter, is one among those which has decided to merge with the KHADC on the issue.
According to Syiem, the sub-committee – which has been given a deadline to complete drafting of the memorandum in a single sitting – is comprises of one representative from each organization and institution.
He further informed that the next sitting on the matter will again be held on September 8, in which the meeting has resolved to invite a delegation from the other two district councils – JHADC and GHADC to be part of the process in ensuring a collective decision is voice out on the matter.
“We will also invite all the opposition MDCs of the district council as well,” he said while adding that the final draft of the memorandum will be placed before a general meeting to be held later, for garnering more views and opinions from the people of the state.
Asked, the KHADC chief said that they would also accordingly demand the state government to also consider submitting the same memorandum to the Centre.
“Because in the eye of the union government, the opinions, suggestions and proposals drafted by the state government is powerful. Therefore we want the state government to accept our memorandum as its proposal to the Centre on the matter,” he said adding “The state government should have the confidence to agree only one memorandum from the state.”
Earlier in its first sitting held last month, the KHADC had decided to write to state government urging it to recall back its proposals submitted to the Centre in 2013 and 2015 as it was done without any consultation with the stakeholders of the state.
The state government had twice in 2013 and 2015 submitted its views on the Draft Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2012 and Draft Constitutional (One hundred and twenty-third Amendment) Bill, 2015 for amending Article 280 of the Constitution of India and the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
In its letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 7, 2013, the state government has expressed its reservation on theproposed substitution of sub-paragraph (a) Paragraph 12 A of the Sixth Schedule.
It stated that Paragraph 3 of the Sixth Schedule contains subjects like Management of Forest, Establishment of Town Committee and matters relating to Town Administration which are very critical in the present days context on which the state government with its resources has a very important and crucial role to play.
“The state government is of the view that it is not desirable to substitute the existing Paragraph 12 A (a) as it will create confusion and may give rise to conflict between the autonomous district councils and the state government,” the letter had stated.
However, Forum of Councils under Sixth Schedule (FOCUS), comprising of ADCs from NE region had written to the Centre for ensuring that Paragraph 12 A (a) should be omitted and ensure subjects under Paragraph 3 are brought within the purview of the ADCs.
Meanwhile the different organizations attended today’s meeting include – Khasi Students Union (KSU), Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF), Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) and others.
By Our Reporter
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