Meghalaya govt forms committee on amendment of Sixth Schedule
SHILLONG | August 30, 2019:
The Meghalaya Government on Thursday, constituted a committee to look into the concern of various groups on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The decision to constitute the committee was taken following a meeting of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma with the members of the Meghalaya Indigenous Tribal Constitutional Rights Movements (MITCRM).
"We have decided to constitute a committee to look into the concerns of the indigenous people of the State on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule," Meghalaya District Council Affairs Minister, James K Sangma told reporters after the meeting.
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He also informed that the committee has given one month's time to submit its views.
Besides Sangma, the others members of the committee include Tourism Minister, Metbah Lyngdoh, Urban Affairs Minister, Hamletson Dohling, Commissioner and Secretary in charge DCA department, the Chief Executive Members of the three Autonomous District Councils, the Advocate General and the MITCRM.
On the memorandum submitted by the MITCRM on the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule which was already table in the Rajya Sabha, Sangma said that the committee will discuss the concerns raised by the MITCRM.
It may be mentioned that the proposed amendment has been referred to the Select Committee after it was tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
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"We will subsequently take it up with the select committee," the DCA Minister said.
The MITCRM had raised certain points against the proposed amendment and had demanded the state government to take them up for consideration.
Meanwhile, member of the MITCRM, Samuel B Jyrwa said that they want the words "unrepresented tribes" be removed from the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule.
"This is dangerous and it should be deleted from the proposed amendments," Jyrwa said.
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According to him, representation to the "unrepresented tribes" has been incorporated only in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Garo Hill Autonomous District Council(GHADC).
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, PHE Minister Samlin Malngiang, Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla, Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek and members of the MITCRM which included members of the pressure groups and traditional heads.
