Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Former North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council executive member Samarjit Haflongbar is pushing the local council to copy the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council model. He believes this move will better protect the political rights of indigenous Scheduled Tribe communities in Dima Hasao. He cites the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and Article 244(2) as the primary tools for defending local land, identity, and customs.
Haflongbar points to the Garo Hills council restricting election eligibility to Scheduled Tribe members. Meghalaya officials are also prepping a separate electoral roll for these tribal voters. Haflongbar wants NCHAC leaders to study these mechanisms closely. He fears that shifting demographics and industrial growth currently threaten to dilute constitutional safeguards for locals. Massive land transfers for corporate projects have specifically caught his attention.
Haflongbar warned about the influx of outside labor. "If large tracts of land pass into the control of non-ST corporate groups and are followed by the permanent settlement of large numbers of outside workers and employees, the demographic character of the area could undergo substantial change," he said. He argues that these population shifts will eventually strip tribal groups of their political representation.
He is not calling for an end to local progress. He wants a balance between modern industry and ancient rights. "The issue is not against development, industry or any particular community. Development must go hand in hand with protection of indigenous rights," he said. He has officially called on the Assam government, the Governor, and the NCHAC to launch a formal review of current protections to ensure tribal interests remain secure.
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