Remove Kuki & 37 sub tribes and Naga from Schedule Tribe of Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 12, 2024

The Jaintia Coordination Committee on Reservation Policy or the JCCRP stressed on the need to revise the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order, 1950 relating to the list of Scheduled Tribes in Meghalaya.

The JCCRP put up the demand in the representation submitted to the Secretary of the Expert Committee on Reservation Policy in Shillong on Friday.

According to the representation, the JCCRP informed there is an entry defining Jaiñtia or Pnar as Synteng which should be deleted since this is a very derogatory in nature.

The JCCRP asserted that the Scheduled Tribe of Meghalaya should reflect the indigenous tribes of the Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo hills since in other State the Scheduled Tribe list includes only the indigenous tribes.

They urged the government to review and amend the Scheduled Tribes Order of 1950 as it pertains to the state of Meghalaya.

The JCCRP wants the removal of certain tribes, such as the Kuki and their 37 sub-tribes, from the Scheduled Tribes list for Meghalaya. “Additionally, we ask for the exclusion of various Naga tribes from this list,” the JCCRP said.

They also said that Scheduled Tribes designation is meant to provide affirmative action and support to communities that have historically been marginalized and are in need of special consideration for their social, economic, and educational advancement.

“Therefore, we implore the government to take immediate action to revise the list to reflect the present demographic realities of Meghalaya,” the JCCRP said.

The representation said that this will help safeguard the rights and interests of the indigenous tribes who truly deserve the protection and benefits accorded by the Scheduled Tribes status.