Tura, August 09: The Association for Democracy and Employment of Garo Hills has written to the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Mr Boston Mark asking from the District Council authority if land has been granted to the non tribal in Tura Bazaar.
In the letter sent to the CEM of the GHADC the president of the Association Mr Dalseng Bira Ch Momin said that on behalf of Association for Democracy and Empowerment, would like to draw the attention of the highest authority of the Council on a very serious issue and a grave irregularity on the part of the GHADC or any other responsible authorities concerning allotment of Land Patta to some people and would like to ask for your immediate response in this regard.
The ADE claim that they have come to know from reliable sources that some people were allotted Patta against plots of land in Tura Bazaar to Mr Swapan Rishi, Mr Arun Rishi , Mr Sri Otish Rishi, Mr Govinda Rishi, Mr Sri Lal Mohan Rishi, Mr Jumbura Rishi, Mr Nironjon Rishi, Mr Amarswer Rishi, Mr Siben Rishi, Mr Gogal Rishi, Mr Sudangshu Rishi, Mr Dilu Rishi, and Mr Mongol Rishi.
The organization said that allotting Pattas is a normal procedure and we have nothing against the process but the real concern crop up when the beneficiaries are not from the indigenous authenticity. As we all know Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1970 was specifically formulated to safeguard and protect the rights of local indigenous tribals on the issue of ownership of land. This Act clearly defines the norms for acquiring ownership of land in the state, which in this occasion has been evidently violated.
The organization pointed out that SECTION 3(1) of the Act clearly mentions “No land in Meghalaya shall be transferred by a tribal to a non-tribal or by a non-tribal to another non-tribal except with the previous sanction of the competent authority.” In this occasion we have seen the abnormality in a very large scale. Quite a few non-tribal people were given land ownership in Tura area by delivering them authentic land pattas. They are using these pattas for various beneficial purposes like acquiring loans, building business establishments and many other commercial uses. This kind of misdeeds dilutes Section 21(e) under the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971.
This kind of happenings shouldn’t only be termed as indiscretion on the part of the authority but it has very awful long term effects on the socio-political scenario of the state. This not only impinges on the indigenous populace but also limits the developmental prospects of the future generation of the natives.
According to 2011 Census, poverty and landlessness in rampant amongst the STs. 51% of all STs are below the poverty line compared to 40.02% for the national average, and 65% of the STs are landless. So when the native people are facing such a humongous shortage of land ownership in their own sixth schedule state, people sitting in the top deciding positions should not allow their fellow brethren to be cheated out from their constitutional rights.
ADE with the concerned citizens of the region sincerely appeals your kind office to cancel the Land Pattas recently allotted against the non-tribals and take strong actions alongside to prevent such misdeed in the near future. They sincerely hope that the newly formed Council under your able leadership wouldn’t hesitate to take radical measures to safeguard the interests of the native people and book the persons who are responsible for such heinous act. Said Mr Dalseng Bira Ch Momin in the press statement.
