Meghalaya: GHADC MDCs meet CM to push forward Garo Customary Law

TURA

A delegation of MDCs from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council today met the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, to speed up the passing of the codification of Garo Customary Law Bill that is still awaiting the approval from the state’s Governor.

The MDCs, led by CEM of GHADC, Dipul Marak, along with members of the drafting committee, met the CM at his residence in Tura.

The GCL had earlier been passed by the NPP led Executive Committee in the year 2018 after deliberations between various stakeholders of Garo Hills.

However, it had met with certain criticism over the definition of who would be considered a ‘Garo’ or ‘Achik Mande’. All 29 MDCs gave their assent to the Bill while they passed it.

Speaking of passing the Bill, executive committee member and MDC from GNC, Augustine Marak stated that they passed it after due consultation with various stakeholders, including NGOs from Garo Hills.

Codification of Garo customs is an important Bill which is expected to move the tribe from oral traditions to a documented one. Almost all tradition, laws and customs with Garo society are still verbal, passing on from generation to generation.