Shillong, Apr 25: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (COMSO) has demanded a suspension of issuance of trading and hawker licenses to non-tribal persons by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), alleging unchecked rise in influx of immigrants into Garo Hills region.
A COMSO delegation comprising senior members, traditional leaders, and representatives from affiliated socio-cultural groups submitted a comprehensive memorandum to GHADC chief executive member (CEM) Albinus R Marak in this regard on Friday.
In the memorandum, COMSO raised issues of misuse of tribal trading licences, Trading by Non-Tribal (TNT) and hawker licences to non-tribal individuals without due verification.
COMSO demanded for an immediate moratorium on issuance of TNT licences to non-tribals pending a comprehensive verification and regulatory mechanism.
It also sought a halt to issuance of hawker licences to prevent unregulated street vending by non-indigenous persons.
Demanding a structured documentation process to check infiltration from outside the state, the COMSO sought digitalisation of TNT and hawker licences and trade establishments, installation of TNT licence check gates at key entry corridors and trade routes across Garo Hills.
The COMSO also asked the GHADC to immediately stop issuance of tribal trading licences to non-tribals through proxy arrangements.
“We also call upon the GHADC to pass a resolution urging the state government to move the Central government for a constitutional amendment of the Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950, in order to rectify long-standing anomalies and protect genuine tribal identities,” COMSO stated in the memorandum.
Further, the COMSO emphasised the need for GHADC to convene a special session of the Council at the earliest to deliberate on the issues and pass a resolution reflecting the collective will of the people of the Garo Hills.
