KHADC seeks Constitutional amendment to recognise only indigenous tribes as STs
Shillong, Oct 30: Tribals not indigenous to Meghalaya, but still recognised as Scheduled Tribes (STs), are allegedly on a land-buying spree along the state’s border with Assam, especially near Guwahati.
“We have received complaints against rampant buying of land by people from outside Meghalaya in Pillangkata area in Ri Bhoi district,” said Pyniaid Sing Syiem, chief executive member (CEM) of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday.
Although inside Meghalaya, Pillangkata is adjacent to the city of Guwahati, which is expanding on a rapid rate due to being the hub of six north-eastern states.
“Many people, who are STs of other states like Nagas, Mizos and others, are buying land at Pillangkata at the moment. There could also be non-tribals, who are also getting to buy land out there,” Syiem said after leading a KHADC delegation to meet Governor CH Vijayashankar to apprise the matter.
The Meghalaya Land Transfer (Regulation) Act clearly prohibits people from outside Meghalaya to buy land in the state, but it does not prohibit people, who are tribals of other states and are also recognized as STs in Meghalaya.
The KHADC has taken up the matter with the government to impress upon the Centre to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for recognising only local indigenous tribes as STs in Meghalaya.
“The present executive committee (EC) is aggressively pursuing the issue with the state government… we are urging the need to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to clearly specify who are the indigenous tribes of Meghalaya,” the CEM said.
Further, the CEM informed that the EC had entrusted the Elaka and the Land department of the Council to resolve this issue and if necessary, take stern decisions to solve this problem of land alienation that is happening in areas bordering Assam.
Asked, Syiem said, “After receiving the complaints, we summoned the Syiem of Hima Mylliem since the Syiem of Raid Marwet is under the Hima Mylliem… Elaka and the Land departments have constituted a committee to look into this issue.”
“We have made it clear that we do not want such an incident to happen in other parts of the region. Therefore, we will try our best to speed up the committee and if the situation demands, we will take stern action on this matter,” he assured.
Meanwhile, Syiem said the KHADC is not accepting any application for registration of land by people from outside the state.
“Therefore, allow the committee to examine the issue and make decisions accordingly. We will not please anybody but we will do what is right in the interest of protecting our tribal lands,” he stated.
