Shillong Sept 12: The opposition Congress has asked the MDA government to ensure that the word nomination of people to the autonomous district councils (ADCs) from among the ‘unrepresented’ tribes is removed from the proposed bill to amend the Sixth Schedule.

 The opposition also demanded an official resolution to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, which provides ST status to other tribes from the North Eastern Region apart from Khasi, Jaintia and Garo indigenous tribes of Meghalaya.

 District Council Affairs (DCA) Minister James K. Sangma in his reply in the Assembly on Thursday, said that unrepresented tribes are those included in the ST list of Meghalaya.

 However Congress MLA from East Shillong constituency, Ampareen Lyngdoh said the word “unrepresented tribes” should be removed from the proposed sixth schedule amendment.

 Supporting the demand, Umroi legislator, George B Lyngdoh asked the state government to consider passing an official resolution to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, so that the ST list should include only tribes that are indigenous to Meghalaya, not other tribes from other states in the Northeast.

 According to George, there are 50 to 60 other tribes in the ST list of Meghalaya and the delay to amend the presidential order by the state government paved way for people from other tribes to become members of the ADCs as “unrepresented tribes.”

 “I therefore urge the government to consider passing a resolution to amend this Order immediately,” George said.

 The minister however assured the opposition members that the government would soon take up the issue with the Parliament standing committee which is studying Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill which has been placed in the Rajya Sabha.

 James informed that a state committee under his chairmanship was also constituted by the Meghalaya government recently in view of the concerns which include the particular issue related to the inclusion of unrepresented tribes as expressed by traditional institutions and NGOs of the state.

 “We are undertaking an exercise to look into these areas of concern and after discussion on the matter, we will take it up with the Parliament standing committee,” James said.

 On the official resolution, the DCA minister assured to hold a meeting with the opposition members to discuss all related matters on Friday.

 Ampareen has opposed the proposed establishment of village council and municipal council citing these would contradict with the customary practices of the indigenous people and demanded that “they should be replaced by Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raij or Dorbar Hima.”

 Clarifying on this regard, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said as per the draft amendment Bill, establishment of village/municipal council shall not apply to Meghalaya as the state government has been given the power to accordingly decide on the matter.

 Admitting that some areas were a matter of concern when the Bill came up, Conrad however said that the chairman of the Parliament standing committee is yet to be appointed. “Once the chairman of the standing committee is appointed we will put up a representation and take up issues to ensure that the interests of our people are protected,” Conrad assured the House.