Shillong, Jan 15: The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) has toady expressed its sincere appreciation to the National Commission on Scheduled Tribe (NCST) Chairman Dr Rameshwar Oraon for his prompt decision to write to Home Affairs Minister Sushil Kumar S Shinde, for forwarding the representation from the GCCM to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India.
“The NCST Chairman has written to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement only three days after meeting the Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya,” GCCM Chairman John F Kharshiing told media persons in a press conference held here today.
It may be recalled that the GCCM had submitted a representation to the Vice-Chairman, NCST during his visit to Shillong on 20th March 2010, regarding the fulfilment of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement of 17 August 1948.
“An official meeting and hearing was conducted by NCST on 5th May 2011, after which the NCST issued a directive to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Secretary and on 16 June 2012 the National Human Rights Commission (Law Division) stated that this matter can be resolved by Parliament as it was within their legislative competence,” John Kharshiing said.
The GCCM Chairman also said that a proposal to have five nominated members from amongst the Chiefs, Dollois, and Nokmas into the respective Autonomous District Councils (ADC) would conflict with the constitution of the ADCs, instead he opined that ‘constituting a Federal Council so that the genuine voice of the tribal governing institutions of the Chiefs with only 2 Lok Sabha MPs are heard by the Central Authorities.’
The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya comprises of (Federation of Khasi States, Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, The Council of Dolloi, and The Council of Nokma)(SP News)
