ADCs say ‘NO’ to implementation of Uniform Civil Code

The three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) have unanimously decided to jointly pass a resolution to oppose the Centre’s move to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the chief executive members (CEMs) of the three Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) – held in Shillong here today.

“We have unanimously decided that we will jointly pass a resolution that implementation of UCC in the Sixth Schedule area will be totally opposed (by us) and we also pass a resolution in our respective councils soon regarding this matter,” KHADC chief Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters after the meeting.

The UCC is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply on all citizens equally.

He said that the meeting had discussed at length the intention of the central government to introduce the UCC Bill in the country while adding that “we feel that UCC will directly had an impact on the powers and functions of the ADCs especially with our customs, our traditional practices, community as a whole.”

When asked if a special session will be convened in this regard, Chyne said hopefully a special session will be called by next month as they would like to speed up this matter.

“There are so many problems as I have said that it (UCC) will affect our traditional customs like marriage system. Once this UCC is implemented, we will have a uniform marriage system but here in our custom we have different, so religious and traditional custom will be affected. As Scheduled Tribe, we feel implementation of this UCC will not be acceptable in the state,” he said.

Further, the KHADC chief said that the state government will also have to go in the same line once a resolution is passed by the three ADCs as was done in the case of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

“…the CAA has been exempted in the Scheduled area I think the UCC should also be exempted from the Sixth Schedule. Therefore, we are demanding for exemption of the UCC from the Sixth Schedule area,” he further maintained.

Percentage allocated should not be touched: FKJGP

President of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo people (FKJGP) Dundee Khongsit said that the percentage allocated to the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo categories should not be touched.

Speaking to media persons, Khongsit said that it is a fact that Meghalaya is very fortunate as Tribal communities enjoy 80 per cent in job reservations since as per the central law, no community can exceed 50 per cent in any reservation.

Khongsit said that everyone understands that this is a very sensitive issue and it will be better if the state reservation policy is left as it is or else the state might even lose out on the 80 per cent job reservation.

“As per my understanding according to the central law, no community can exceed 50 per cent when it comes to job reservation, so yes we are in fact fortunate that 80 per cent was allocated to the Tribals, so it is better if we don’t make any changes or else we might lose out on that 80 per cent,” said Khongsit.

On the other hand, Khongsit said that the FKJGP endorsed the demand that the roster system should be implemented prospectively from the date that the state government came up with an office memorandum on May 10, 2022.

Khongsit said that the federation is happy with the directive of the Meghalaya High Court which suggested that it is now left to the state government to decide on the cut-off date for the implementation of the roster system.

FKJGP bats for encouragement of ecotourism

Batting for the encouragement of the local youth to take up ecotourism, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo people (FKJGP) has sought an audience with the state government to discuss this important issue.

Speaking to media persons, the president of FKJGP Dundee Khongsit said that today they had a meeting with all stakeholders which includes those associations who deal with transportation, homestay and tour operators to discuss on how to move forward in promoting ecotourism in the state.

Khongsit said that recently a delegation of the FKJGP had gone to Sikkim and had met several tour operators, the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) and officials of the tourism department to find out how the state was able to facilitate tourists and make the state as one of the best tourism destination not just in North East (NE) but in the country as a whole.

He added that during the visit to Sikkim, the delegation of FKJGP had learnt so much, especially on what are the concepts that Sikkim is implementing to facilitate the flow of tourists in the state.

“During our visit to Sikkim, we had discuss whether implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) have any negative impact on tourism and the response we got from Sikkim, that ILP will not have any negative impact on the flow of tourist in the state” said Khongsit.

Khongsit said that in order to promote tourism in the state, the government must define how people from outside the state will come to Meghalaya, either through ecotourism or through employment opportunities.

He added that in order to promote tourism, there is a need for the state government to involve people’s participation and there is a need for the government to regulate the flow of tourists by separating tourists from those who come to Meghalaya in the form of employment opportunities.

“Due to non-regulation, it is difficult to identify between a tourist and those who come for employment, hence there will come a time when one will take advantage in the form of a tourist and this might lead to untoward incidents like what had happened in Sohra” he added.

Khongsit added that the state government should come out with policies to identify, who are the tourist and who are those who come to Meghalaya just for the employment opportunity and the state government must intensify its approach with the central government to implement ILP as it will not have any impact on tourism” he added.