Shillong, August 3: The federation of twenty-five Khasi states, which signed the instrument of accession to the union of India during the country’s independence in 1947-48, has decided to pursue their movement for constitutional rights under the framework of the Indian constitution.
The spokesman of the federation, John F Kharshiing told newsmen on Friday that the federation has already approached the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on the recommendation of the National Commission for Schedule Tribes to take up the issue.
Kharshiing said that the federation had sought clear cut constitutional definitions of the rights and powers of the Khasi states in the administrative and judicial spheres especially when the nation is now giving importance to grass-root level administrative autonomy that takes the traditional administrative institution into confidence for development.
Kharshiing emphasized that the Khasi states also have the rights to be involved as partners in the development of the remote areas. He felt that because the Panchayati Raj Act does not apply to Meghalaya because of the existence of the traditional institutions there is a strong case for constitutional recognition of these institutions within the spirit of the instrument of accession signed between these twenty-five states with the union government sixty-five years ago.
Kharshiing said that these traditional institutions represent the power of the people specially the rural masses and it becomes important to take them into confidence and make them a partner in nation building
By Sumar Sing Sawian
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