Tura, Feb 9: The central government has allegedly dropped the long awaited proposed Amendment to the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India from the current Parliament session that would have benefitted the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council with increased seats, more powers and a direct funding from New Delhi.

The 6th Schedule Amendment is a critical part of the demand that was to be followed after the signing of the peace agreement between the ANVC militant group and the central and state governments which took place in 2014.

It would have led to a renaming of the GHADC, increase in its seats, more powers and departments to the council and direct funding from centre to council bypassing the state government.

Deputy Chief Executive Member of GHADC, Nikman Ch Marak of the Garo National Council, on being apprised of the developments in New Delhi has dashed off a letter to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma requesting him to step in and dialogue with the centre to get the Amendment passed in Parliament.

Nikman Marak has expressed dismay by the decision of the central government to once again drop the amendment which is a very important part of the agreement’s success leading to the strengthening of the district councils and bringing in development to the region.

“The central government is once again dropping the amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India in the ongoing session of Parliament despite the signing of Tripartite Agreement between Govt of India, erstwhile ANVC and govt of Meghalaya way back in the year 2014. The said amendment was supposed to be affected right from that year thereby paving the way to creation of the Garoland Territorial Council with more subjects and direct funding from the centre, but for reasons not known to us, the same is being kept in abeyance hitherto,” wrote Deputy CEM GHADC Nikman Marak to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

He said that the need of the hour was for the Meghalaya chief minister to judiciously pursue the issue with the central government so that the amendment can be passed in Parliament leading to the creation of the Garoland Territorial Council in letter and spirit of the Tripartite Agreement signed by all three sides in 2014.