KHNAM Demands ST Certificates Only for Khasi, Jaintia & Garo Tribes in Meghalaya

KHNAM Demands ST Certificates Exclusively for Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Communities in Meghalaya

Shillong, August 22:
The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has strongly appealed to the Meghalaya government to restrict the issuance of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates only to the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities.

KHNAM working president Thomas Passah submitted a petition urging Chief Secretary DP Wahlang to ensure that the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines of 1975 and 1977 are strictly followed while granting ST certificates.

Ensuring ST Quotas for Indigenous Tribes

Passah emphasized that ST quotas in Meghalaya should be reserved solely for indigenous and permanent residents of the state—namely the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes. He further urged the Chief Secretary to raise this issue with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and amend the ST list for Meghalaya as outlined in the Presidential Order of 1950.

Action Against Doubtful ST Certificates

Highlighting the rising concerns over misuse of ST certificates, Passah called for:

• A proper mechanism to investigate complaints against individuals with doubtful ST status.

• Cancellation of fraudulently obtained certificates after thorough verification.

Call to BSF for Indigenous Recruitment

While appreciating the BSF’s special recruitment drive for ST candidates in Meghalaya, KHNAM insisted that only Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo candidates should be considered eligible, strictly in line with the MHA’s guidelines.

Why This Demand Matters

The demand comes amid growing debates on safeguarding the rights of indigenous tribes in Meghalaya. Restricting ST certificates to genuine communities aims to:

• Protect job and education quotas meant for local tribes.

• Prevent misuse of constitutional benefits by non-indigenous groups.

• Strengthen the identity and cultural rights of Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities.