𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) has adopted a series of far-reaching and contentious resolutions calling for sweeping restrictions on non-tribals in the Garo Hills region, including limits on business activities, employment, voting rights and access to identity documents, during a meeting of its Central Executive Committee held in Tura.

The meeting was chaired by Acting Chairman Balkarin Ch. Marak, who addressed issues related to tribal rights and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Co-Chairman Jakrak A. Sangma delivered the welcome address, while Ryan Ch. Marak spoke on what he described as the changing character of Tura. The vote of thanks was delivered by General Secretary Tony Tojrang B. Marak.

Following the meeting, the GSMC issued a press release stating that all resolutions were discussed in detail and unanimously adopted. Among the key decisions was a resolution opposing the engagement of non-tribals in business activities within Tura and a call to restrict the entry of non-tribals into the Garo Hills region.

The Committee also adopted resolutions proposing age-based restrictions on the issuance of Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and Aadhaar cards. It was resolved that residents of A•chik A•song and Sixth Schedule areas should obtain EPIC cards only between the ages of 18 and 20, while similar provisions for non-tribals would be valid for only two years. In another resolution, it proposed that non-tribals may obtain Aadhaar cards for children only between the ages of three and eight.