Shillong 29 October: The second meeting of tribal leaders of Tamil Nadu was, on 26th October 2012, in the Planning Commission Conference Hall, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai.The meeting was facilitated by the Tribal Welfare Dept. Govt of Tamil Nadu, presided over by Shri John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, Govt of Meghalaya & Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya.
The Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, expressed his sincere appreciation to the State Government, particularly Thiru K.V. Giridhar, Director Tribal Welfare and senior officials of Planning Commission for facilitating the meeting of the tribal leaders.
At the meeting he informed that he had again met Hon’ble Shri. V Kishore Chandra Deo, MP, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Govt of India, on Sept 25, 2012, wherein the Union Minister had informed that his Ministry is considering moving the Govt of India for Constitution of a Commission as mandated under Article 339 to look into the issues of administration and welfare of the Schedule Tribes in the Country.
The meeting urged the Central Government to urgently consider the constitution of such a Commission under Article 339 which is much needed to examine the many challenges faced by the Schedule Tribes in various parts of the Country.The meeting also resolved to empower Shri. John F Kharshiing, to constitute an adhoc National Tribal Council of India, representing the Schedule Tribes of the Country.
The meeting discussed the matters relating to the various recommendations and suggestions from the National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST) to the Tamil Nadu State Government on July 9, 2012 wherein among others the NCST recommended the setting up of separate SC and ST Commission to address issues relating to STs in Tamil Nadu.
After a marathon three hours, the tribal leaders of Tamil Nadu passed resolutions and elected their office bearers, the association of tribal groups and leaders as ‘Tamil Nadu Tribal Council (TNTC) with its postal address for the time being to be at the newly elected Chairman’s address in Coimbatore.
In this meeting they have elected thirty three members Executive Council with thirteen office bearers to represent the 36 tribal communities in the Tamil Nadu Tribal Council.
Shri KA Gunasekaran, as Chairman shri L Shanmugam,shri V Murugesan, shri Sundaram, as Vice –Chairman; shri P Mani, Secretary, shri B Pushpakumar, Treasurer, Thiru. K Munusamy, Tmt. K Susuliammal, shri S. Thangasamy, shri. V Natarajan as Joint Secretaries; and Thiru. John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs, shri. Alwas Nawa, shri. K.V. Giridhar, IFS, Director, Tribal Welfare Dept. GoTN, as Chief Advisers; with the others to being members of the 33 member Executive Council Body.
After the meeting they have submitted a memorandum to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Minister Tribal Welfare Dept., and Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu Government highlighting the various issues of the schedule tribes in Tamil Nadu including notification and constitution of the Tamil Nadu Schedule Tribes Commission by the State Government as recommended and suggested by the NCST.
In the meeting they have empower the Tamil Nadu Tribal Council, Executive Council body to co-opt any other member as and when required. The meeting concluded with a decision that the Executive Council will meet within one month to initiate the future programs of the Tamil Nadu Tribal Council (TNTC).The meeting was attended by more than forty tribal leaders from all over the State, representing various tribal groups in Tamil Nadu.
