Unrepresented Tribes And The Politics Of Exclusion In Meghalaya

Meghalaya’s bid to exclude “unrepresented tribes” from the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution has left minor tribes upset. The five minority tribes -Hajong, Koch, Rabha, Boro and Mann are clubbed together as “unrepresented tribes” and they fear that once the proposed amendment is implemented, their rights will be violated. Northeast Today reports.

On September 26, 2019 a sub-committee constituted by the State government of Meghalaya had decided to recommend to the Standing Committee of Parliament the removal of the word “unrepresented tribes” from the amended Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. In its second sitting, the 18-member committee headed by the District Council Affairs (DCA) minister, James K Sangma recommended deletion of the word ‘unrepresented tribes’ from the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule. It should be mentioned here that currently, members of “unrepresented tribes” are nominated to the autonomous district councils within Meghalaya.

Sangma’s bid to exclude “unrepresented tribes” from the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution has left minor tribes upset. Meghalaya is the home of three major tribes- Khasi, Jayantiya and Garo, along with other minority tribes. The minority tribes include the Hajong, Koch, Rabha, Boro and Mann. These five minority tribes are clubbed together as “unrepresented tribes” mentioned in the above recommendation. The proposed recommendation for removal of the word “unrepresented tribes” by the 18 members committee is likely to affect the rights of these tribes and hence there is a feeling of insecurity among them.

Fear has many faces