SHILLONG, JAN 6: The ANVC B on Sunday said that it would soon brief the traditional heads and other Garo leaders on the fine points of the peace talks that were held on Saturday.
“We will meet the traditional heads and other leaders of the society very soon to brief them about the contents of the signed draft,” said ANVC B chairman Rimpu Marak said in a statement issued here.
The crucial talks to bring about a lasting settlement to the Garo problem was held between the two factions of the ANVC, Centre and the state government. The talks were very positive and all concerned parties indicated a pact was imminent.
Shambu Singh, joint secretary (north east), ministry of home affairs, had said after the meeting that the text had been frozen till it goes through the process of approvals, including that of the state cabinet and the Union cabinet, before the final document w signed the concerned parties
Marak said the common man would stand to benefit from the settlement. “ANVC-B signed the peace pact to bring peace to the people. We joined the settlement process at the final stage to ensure peace and bring about changes in terms of development, growth and progress to the deprived areas, especially the Garo dominated areas,” he said, adding that it cry for development had finally been heard.
His faction, Marak said, focused on granting democracy in the grassroots with provisions of direct funding by the Centre. “This demand was accepted and included in the draft, making us part of the settlement process,” he said, adding: “My movement has been to bring about positive change in the society, and I believe this can materialize through empowering the (people at the) grassroots level and encouraging mass participation (in the process of development and governance).”
One of the key demands of the ANVC was the creation of a Garoland Autonomous Council in lines with the Bodoland Territorial Council. The state government, however, made it clear that this was not acceptable because the Garo Hills already has an autonomous district council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to look after the welfare of the indigenous community. However, both the Centre and the state government have conceded to the ANVC’S 13-point demand that include expansion of the powers of the district council. (By Our Reporter)
+ There are no comments
Add yours