SHILLONG, MAY 12: The Sohra Circle of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh, demanding cancellation of all existing Trading Licences issued to non-tribals and a halt to new ones.

“On behalf of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) Sohra Circle, we place before your office certain urgent issues that the organisation has observed, and we request your office to take serious note to resolve the matters listed below,” the memorandum said.

The FKJGP sought a ban on Trading Licences for non-tribals in “traditional businesses such as limestone trade to Bangladesh, grocery shops, and others,” as well as for commercial vehicles.

“Cancel and stop issuing Trading Licences to Non-Tribals for commercial vehicles like trucks transporting limestone to Bangladesh, and Sumos/Taxis operating from Majai, Ichamati to Shillong, because over time many local youth of this region are now able to take up this work,” it said.

Citing the Sixth Schedule and the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act, 1959, the organisation said the law mandates cancellation of licences when indigenous people can perform the work. “If indigenous people are able to carry out such work, Trading Licences already issued to Non-Tribals shall not be renewed and shall be cancelled, so that indigenous youth can take up these jobs and it helps address current unemployment,” the memorandum said.

The FKJGP also flagged benami operations and demanded action. “As per the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act, 1959, it clearly prohibits Benami business or Non-Tribals trading under the names of indigenous people, and this is illegal. We strongly urge your office to act on this matter,” it said. It alleged that a KHADC branch tasked with checking Trading Licences of non-tribal-owned limestone trucks “is not functioning as intended.”

“We demand that henceforth all such vehicles must have documents like Registration Certificates in the name of Khasis,” the FKJGP said, urging that trucks be barred from transporting limestone if owners are not Khasis. The organisation further claimed that dominance of “outsiders” in the area stems from non-Khasi village names and non-indigenous headmen.

“The organisation has found that the main reason for outsiders dominating these areas is that many village names here are in foreign names and languages. At the same time, it has been found that many village headmen in these villages are outsiders,” it said.

“The organisation strongly urges your office to immediately change them to Khasi names and ensure that village headmen are indigenous,” the memorandum added.

“We firmly believe that your serious attention to these matters will make our effort successful and bring hope for the overall progress of the region,” the FKJGP said.