Garo organisations oppose the inclusion of RHAC area in the sixth schedule

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• Apr 20, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution...

Digital Desk: The inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution has been vehemently opposed by Garo organizations, including the Garo National Council (GNC), Garo Youth Council (GYC), Garo Women Council (GWC), and Garo National Union (GNU), and others. Members from various Garo organizations voiced out on Wednesday at a meeting held in Santipur village under Chaygaon LAC.

Rabha organizations including the All Rabha Students' Union, Rabha Women Council, and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee have demanded for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, which has sparked protests, rallies, and large-scale gatherings. MLA Durga Das Boro raised the matter in the recent Assam State Assembly Session, and Assam state minister Ronuj Pegu answered that the cabinet subcommittee would provide a report on the inclusion within two months.

"We are taking Minister Ronuj Pegu's comments very seriously. We Garo people have always resisted the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. We will never wish to reside beneath the RHAC area. However, the State administration seeks to give the RHAC area sixth schedule status. We have no issue if the government separates us and our Garo-inhabited villages from the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and then grants them the Sixth Schedule status," said President of GNC Arbitson Momin.

Momin added that the Garo population in the RHAC area is about three lakhs strong, which is larger than the Rabha population. He also emphasized how the Rabha tribe and the Garo tribe had different cultures, religions, historical backgrounds, social practices, and eating habits. "RHAC only develops the Rabha people and their villages, not the Garo people and villages. So, if the government makes decisions without due analysis, it will be in danger in the coming days," he added. 

More than a thousand Garo villagers and members from various Garo organizations from the Kamrup and Goalpara districts attended the conference in Santipur village. In response to the events, the Garo Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC) was established with Behnur K Sangma serving as chairperson and Brayan Marak serving as secretary.

"We cannot coexist with the Rabha people or the RHAC. There are three distinct tribes in Meghalaya, and because there has been no reconciliation, each tribe has its own autonomous sixth schedule council. So, how can we Garo people in Assam live under the RHAC? If we continue to live in the RHAC under Sixth Schedule status, future generations of the Garo tribe will be jeopardized, and we cannot allow this to happen," said Behnur K Sangma, President of GACDC.

"We will meet with the Assam chief minister and the cabinet subcommittee on this matter, and we will tell them that we want a separate Garo Autonomous Council before the RHAC gets Sixth Schedule status. We will also submit them with a memorandum outlining our difficulties, and we are optimistic that our chief minister will comprehend the situation," Behnur K Sangma said.