Shillong, April 18: The Garo Students Union along with others NGOs of Garo Hills like the ADE, AYWO, FKJGP met the Chief Executive Members Mr Dipul R Marak of the GHADC and discussed with him the need to have the Garo Customary Law, Separate Electoral Roll for the GHADC and to prevent non-tribal in participating in the election.
In the meeting with the NGOs demanded from the CEM of the GHADC for the removal of Sofior Rahaman from the post of Chairman of Forest Advisory Committee in the GHADC. In the meeting the meeting the C.E.M. promised to act on the matter and we have submitted a letter of protest to the C.E.M., GHADC. The NGOs in the meeting also discussed on the Boldamgre issue.
Then the discussed on the need for codification of the Garo Customary Law (GCL) for the added protection it can give to the indigenous people. The customary laws of the Garos identify us as a unique indigenous people in this wide world. The codification of Garo Customary law is a welcome step to possibly address the burgeoning demographic imbalance of Garo Hills.
The GCL seeks to address the issue of preserving the identity of the Garos before Garo Hills is swamped by outsiders and the ensuing consequences of drastic demographic change are irreparable. The GCL has the potential to further strengthen the Land Transfer Act by removing the ability of indirect transfer of land to a non-tribal by way of marriage.
The C.E.M. informed that it was during his party’s rule in the ADC that the GCL was placed and passed in the session and had been sent to the then Governor of Meghalaya and was returned for further discussion to the GHADC. On further discussion it was promised that this subject would be taken up in the session that will be held on July 2018.
In the meeting they have also discussed on the pending salaries where for almost 15 months no salary has been released to the of the GHADC staff. The CEM said money for the salaries is being arranged and there have been talks with the state government and that the salary for 5 months will be released as soon as possible.
