Cancel land pattas to non-tribals

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, AUG 9: The Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE) has sought the immediate cancellation of land pattas issued by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to 15 non-tribals as it is in violation against the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1970.

In a memorandum to the GHADC chief Boston Ch Marak, ADE apex committee president Dalseng Bira Ch Momin said, “We appeal to the district council to cancel the land pattas recently allotted to non-tribals and take strong actions to prevent such misdeed in the near future.”

Stating that the grave irregularity on the part of the GHADC is a matter of serious concern, he said that reliable sources informed that patta against plots of land in Tura Bazaar area were allotted to 15 non-tribals.

These include Swapan Rishi,  Arun Rishi , Otish Rishi, Govinda Rishi, Lal Mohan Rishi, Jumbura Rishi, Nironjon Rishi, Amarswer Rishi, Siben Rishi, Gogal Rishi, Sudangshu Rishi, Dilu Rishi, Mongol Rishi.

According to him, allotting pattas is a normal procedure but the real concern crop up when the beneficiaries are not from the indigenous community.

Reminding that the state land transfer Act was specifically formulated to safeguard and protect the rights of local indigenous tribals on the issue of ownership of land, Dalseng said, “But in this occasion, the Act which clearly defines the norms for acquiring ownership of land, has been evidently violated.”

Quoting Section 3 (1) of the Act, he said, “It clearly states that No land in Meghalaya shall be transferred by a tribal to a non-tribal or by a non-tribal to another non-tribal except with the previous sanction of the competent authority.”

He however alleged that quite a few non-tribal people were given land ownership in Tura area by delivering them authentic land pattas adding they are using these pattas for various beneficial purposes like acquiring loans, building business establishments and many other commercial uses.

“This kind of misdeeds dilutes Section 21(e) under the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971. This kind of happenings shouldn’t only be termed as indiscretion on the part of the authority but it has very awful long term effects on the socio-political scenario of our state,” he said.

He added, this not only impinges on the indigenous populace but also limits the developmental prospects of the future generation of the natives.

According to 2011 Census, the ADE chief said that poverty and landlessness in rampant amongst the STs. 51% of all STs are below the poverty line compared to 40.02% for the national average, and 65% of the STs are landless.

“When the native people are facing such a humongous shortage of land ownership in their own sixth schedule state, people sitting in the top deciding positions should not allow their fellow brethren to be cheated out from their constitutional rights,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, the ADE also demanded the new Congress led executive committee to take radical measures to safeguard the interests of the native people and book the persons who are responsible for such heinous act.