Shillong, Dec 4: The A·chik Matgrik formed by disbanded Achik National Volunteer Council-Breakaway (ANVC-B) has sought the intervention of the Centre into the failure of the state government to implement the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS).

In a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary in-charge (North East), Satyandra Garg, Achik Matgrik chairman and former leader of ANVC-B, Bernard N, Marak said, “The state government under the leadership of chief minister Mukul Sangma and Home Minister, HDR Lyngdoh has failed to implement the Agreed Text for Settlement signed by the Garo organizations even after three years.”

Stating that the first paragraph of the Agreement aimed at maintaining cultural identity of the Hill tribals has been grossly violated in Garo Hills, he alleged that the State Government intentionally delayed and dishonored the agreement by not implementing it in its true spirit.

“The State Level Committee was not formed by including our members and they did not even follow the decisions of the Centre Level Monitoring Committee under your leadership,” he told Garg.

During the last meeting, he said, it was decided that members of the organizations would be included in every decision and implementation of the agreement.

“Till now, we have not received any information, on a contrary the Chief Minister is laying foundation stones for projects approved through the ATS, taking all credits to himself and his political party,” he said adding “It was also decided to forward the complete lists of cadres who availed the packages and to withdraw the cases in the courts. But none were executed by the State Government.”

Also pointing out that the ATS focused in strengthening the Grassroot Level Democracy and Local Self Governance in the Hill areas of Meghalaya, especially in Garo Hills, Marak however said, “The political leaders who led the Government in Meghalaya knew the benefits that would flow down to the people living at the grassroot level through the constitutional amendment and how through this, the grass root level people would be freed from the political clutches of the party and would be self sufficient in maintaining the people living in the villages without needing to depend on the political leaders. This has made them insecure and they kept the Agreement in abeyance till now.”

He said that the Political parties ruling the State of Meghalaya have violated the Hill indentity of the tribals in Meghalaya, particularly in Garo Hills adding they grabbed our lands without acquisition, they created general mauzas and constituencies, they renamed the hill roads as NH, introduced municipality in the Hill District and many more.

He also alleged that the political parties even took control of the Autonomous District Council which was created through the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution for Hill Tribals making it into a political institution, with sole objective to strengthen their political parties.

They even mocked the ATS signed with the Centre and made attempts to give wrong impression to the people against the agreement going to the extent of duplicating our demands at the State level, he added.

“We however decided not to stay mute on dishonoring and un-implementation of the Agreed Text for Settlement,” Marak said while informing that they have started a movement “Protection and Empowerment of Traditional Rights and Autonomy in the Hills” – PETRAH to create awareness on the contents of the ATS by highlighting the importance of the Grassroot Level Democracy and Local Self Governance through the Village Councils and Town Committees / Municipal Councils under the Sixth Schedule setups meant solely for the protection, empowerment, autonomy and upliftment of the rights of the Hill Tribals.

Urging the ministry to acknowledge the movement started by the Achik Matgrik, Marak said that the rights of the Hill people have been grossly violated and it is time to strengthen the Traditional Bodies at the Grassroot Level for development and progress of the Hill people through implementation of the Agreement in true spirit.