Shillong, Oct 21: A delegation of twenty four Chiefs from the tribal traditional governing institutions of the Khasi Jaintia and Garo Chiefs (comprising of Syiem, Sirdar, Lyngdoh, Myntri, Nokma, Rangbah Shnong, and Dolloi of Meghalaya) met Hon’ble President of India Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, at Raj Bhavan, Shillong on 21st October 2013, at 6.15pm and submitted a Memorandum. The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (comprises of Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, Federation of 25 Khasi States (established in 1923); Ka Dorbar Ki Dolloi; Sirdarships; and Council of Nokmas – established on 5th March 1965;
The delegation on behalf of the 54 Khasi Hima(s) in Khasi Hills, 18 Dolloi(s) & 1 Sirdar in Jaintia Hills and 1400 Nokma(s) in Garo Hills, was led by John F. Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, GoM, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, and Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, welcomed the President of India by presenting a Khasi traditional shawl to the Hon’ble President of India. While Pa Skylance Momin, retd, IPS, presented a Garo traditional cap to the Hon’ble President of India. This was followed with Paiem Niandro Syiemiong, Syiem(Chief) of Maharam Syiemship & President, Federation of Khasi States, presenting the official Memorandum from the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya to the Hon’ble President of India.
During the meeting, briefing the Hon’ble President of India, Shri. John F. Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, GoM, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, and Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, thanked the Hon’ble President of India for his kind Message which was read out at the Dorbar Ri (Peoples Parliament) held at Mairang, Hima Nongkhlaw Syiemship, on 13 Feb 2013.
The Chairman, handed over extracts of the While Paper on Indian States, which was placed in Parliament during 1949-50, and which refers to the Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement between the 25 Khasi States and the Dominion of India, and which was accepted and signed by the first Governor General of free India, Shri. C Rajagopalachari, on 17th Aug 1948.
Shri. John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, stated that in the enthusiasm generated by the attainment of freedom and the promulgation for the Constitution, the Instrument of Accession and provisions of the Annexed Agreements were overlooked and were yet to be concluded by the successor Government of India, and he stated that this was of the reasons for various conflicts faced by the indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes of Meghalaya.
He also drew the attention of the Hon’ble President of India, to the recent directives from the the National Commission for Schedule Tribes(NCST), on 26 April 2012, to the Ministry for Tribal Affairs, Govt of India, to address the constitutional anomaly that exist in relation to the tribal traditional governing institutions Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Chiefs, including the recent official communication from The National Commission on Human Rights, (NHRC) on 16 June 2012, stating that the matter of the Instrument of Accession was within the ‘legislative competence of Parliament’, and advised the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya to approach Government of India.
The Hon’ble President was informed that a similar delegation from the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya met UPA & NAC, Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and Shri. V Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Govt of India personally on 7th and 9th June 2012, to submit similar Memorandums and were anxiously awaiting for Legislative response from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
The Hon’ble President of India was informed about the difference between the accession of the Khasi States with the dominion and the erstwhile Indian Princely States was that while the latter merged with the neighbouring States or constituted separate States with the Indian Union by means of the Instrument of Merger and the process of proclamation, 25 Khasi States retained their identity within the provision of the Indian Constitution.
The president was also informed about the massive gatherings at the First Dorbar Ri (Peoples Parliament) held at Smit, Hima Khyrim , on the 14th of Jan 2004, the Second Dorbar Ri (Peoples Parliament) at Mawphlang on the 6th October 2007, the Third Dorbar Ri(People’s Parliament), held on 14 November, 2011, at Asananggre, West Garo Hills District, and Forth Dorbar Ri (Peoples Parliament, held on 13 February, 2013, at Mairang, Hima Nongkhlaw Syiemship, West Khasi Hills Dist, Meghalaya, which was a democratic expression for being heard.
The Hon’ble President of India was informed that the Dorbar Ri(Peoples Parliament) was primarily to draw the attention of the entire nation and the Central Govt to the needs of the people of Meghalaya in this respect, similarly the Peoples Parliament passed democratic and economic resolutions.
The Chiefs also submitted a draft proposal for amending the Constitution of India by including a Thirteenth schedule for a separate ‘Party-less Federal or Regional Council’ so as to provide constitutional space, recognition and protection of the tribal traditional governing institutions of the Khasi States, the Dolloi(s), and the Council of Nokma’s under Meghalaya, within the Constitution of India, and urged the President of India to render his good office for the fulfillment of the aspiration of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people by way of inclusion of the proposed ‘party-less’ Thirteenth Schedule within the constitution of India.
The Hon’ble President of India Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, assured the delegation that he would enquire and study the Memorandum in detail and look into the matter.
Hon’ble President of India stated that his office would seek a brief from the concerned Ministries of the Government of India so as to enable him to respond accordingly to the Memo from the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya.
The 24 member delegation comprised of Mr John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Mr Niandro Syiemiong, Syiem of Hima Maharam Syiemship & President of Federation of Khasi States, Mr Phrester Manik Syiemlieh, Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw & Vice –President, Federation of Khasi States, Mr Harlinjai Skhemlon, Sirdar of Hima Mawdon, & Secretary, Federation of Khasi States, Mr Humphrey L Ryntathiang, Lyngdoh Hima Lyngiong Lyngdohship, & Joint Secy, Federation of Khasi States, Mr. R. Hamberly Wahlang Syiem Hima Jirang Mr Rynkatdor Malai, Syiem of Hima Malai Sohmat Syiemship, Mr Medrick Ranee, Acting Chief Hima Nongspung Syiemship, Mr Wanphrang Syiem, Sirdar Hima Nongpoh, Mr Hamslet Mylliempdah, Myntri Hima Khyrim, Mr RL Sohliya Myntri Hima Mawphlang Mr. Tyllilang Myrthong Secretary Hima Mawsynram Mr. Lawrence Basaiawmoit Myntri Basaiawmoit, Hima Nongkhlaw, Mr Elijius Sawian Secretary, Secy Synjuk Khlieh Nongsynshar Sohra Mr HP Oflyn Dohling, Rangbah Shnong, Dorbar Shnong Malki & former President Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Sor & Khap Sor, Mr Moon R Garod Dolloi Elaka Nongbah, Jaintia Hills, Mr. Batskhem Lyngdoh, Dolloi Elaka Rymbai, Jaintia Hills, Mr. E. Bareh, Finance Secretary, Elaka Rymbai, Jaintia Hills Mr. Chui Pohlynjiar, Dolloi Elaka Nongtalang, Jaintia Hills, Mr Holando Lamin, Member & Former Secretary, Elaka Nongtalang, Jaintia Hills, Mr. S.G Momin, President, Council of Nokmas, Mr. Charles Momin Gen Secretary, Council of Nokmas Mr. L.K Marak Executive Member Council of Nokmas Mr. Joshua Sangma, Complaint Secretary & Executive Member, Council of Nokmas, Tura Garo Hills.(SP News)
