Shillong, May 8: A fresh controversy has surfaced in Tura over the renewal of TNT licences, with traders alleging that “unofficial rules” are now being imposed during the process despite no such provisions existing in the Garo Hills District trading regulations.
TNT, or Trading by Non-Tribals licence, is mandatory for non-tribal individuals and businesses operating within the jurisdiction of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). The licence is renewed annually and serves as one of the council’s important revenue sources under the Sixth Schedule framework.
Traders in Tura now claim they are being informally asked to obtain recommendation letters from a local MDC before their applications can move forward. Sources familiar with the process alleged that the recommendation requirement does not appear anywhere in the prescribed TNT application rules or formats.
Some traders further alleged that recommendations are being issued selectively and money is allegedly being demanded during the process without official receipts. The allegations could not be independently verified by this publication.
According to sources, applicants are also allegedly being told to first secure an NOC from the local Nokma before approaching for recommendation. Traders argue that this condition too is not formally mentioned in the TNT provisions framed by the district council.
The issue has triggered concern because TNT renewal is not just a routine document. Non-tribal traders operating in Garo Hills require the licence to legally continue commercial activity within the autonomous district council area. Contractors from outside Meghalaya executing projects in the region are also required to obtain such permissions.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time in Garo Hills where debates around non-tribal rights, land ownership and district council powers have intensified over recent months.
Civil society groups in the region have also repeatedly raised concerns over the regulation of TNT licences, arguing that the mechanism was originally meant to regulate trade and protect indigenous tribal interests under the Sixth Schedule.
Traders now fear that if renewals are delayed or subjected to unofficial conditions, it could affect both business activity and district council revenue collection during the ongoing renewal cycle.
Attempts to contact concerned GHADC officials for comments remained unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
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