SHILLONG, AUG 13: Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Bishweswar Tudu on Saturday assured to take up with the Centre on the long pending demands of tribal people for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

“Many (central) ministers are coming to the North East region and they are giving reports to the central government from time to time. So I will also give a report and I will discuss these are the issues and what action we can take to solve the matter,” Tudu told reporters when asked about the issue related to the feeling of insecurity among the tribal populace in the absence of effective anti-influx laws in place.

On the delay of the Centre to give its decision on the official resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for implementation of ILP in the state, Tudu however said, “Next time when I come (again) I can give you a proper answer and maybe I will communicate to our party leaders and I can also give the suggestion to the government (on this matter).”

The MoS also assured to take up the pending demand for inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

With regards to the demand for declaring the Niam Khasi and Niam Tre indigenous religious faiths as ‘religious minority’, Tudu however said he has not received any such representation on the matter.

“If I get it automatically I will give the report, otherwise I will send a team to inquire and examine the matter practically, so that the matter can be solved,” he said.

According to him, a survey has to be conducted on the matter seeking religious minority status as per guidelines.

“There is a procedure as the proposal will go from the state government to the central government and central government will examine and if the criteria will be fulfilled automatically they will be given the opportunity,” he said.