Electioneering for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) is set to undergo a massive transformation as the state government has intensified its efforts to introduce an indigenous-based electoral framework for the GHADC.
Creation of a dedicated Scheduled Tribe (ST)-exclusive electoral roll for GHADC was a long-pending demand of the indigenous communities.
The government proposal to create the new electoral roll is aimed at safeguarding the demographic and political integrity of tribal populations in Garo Hills.
The proposed framework will ensure that only ST voters participate in GHADC elections, thereby keeping governance in Sixth Schedule areas firmly within the hands of tribal representatives, according to officials.
The government maintains that the initiative is in line with the constitutional mandate under Article 244(2) and the Sixth Schedule, which are designed to protect tribal authority over ancestral lands and traditional institutions, including the Nokma system in Garo Hills.