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MoU signed between Meghalaya Kingdom of Belgium

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Meghalaya Government and the Wallonia Region of the Kingdom of Belgium in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma at Taj Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi.

The objective of these MoU was to promote favorable relations of partnership and beneficial cooperation between the two and to recognize the importance of the principles of equality and mutual in the fields of trade and commerce, training, healthcare, environmental areas, science and technology, agro-food including breweries, sports and leisure, architecture and heritage, urban development/eco-system management, veterinary & animal husbandry and other fields that shall be mutually agreed upon.

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KHADC to oppose MMDC rights on mining

P.N. Syiem Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has condemned the decision of the Meghalaya Government for trying to handover the mining policy to the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation (MMDC) without consulting the Council. The aim of the Government is to give MMDC the rights to mine limestone and coal.

The chief said that this decision of the government is an insult to the Council and violation of the Sixth Scheduled which is unconstitutional. He also added that if the MMDC get its rights, land owners will suffer as their land would be seizes and people will lose their rights on natural resources.

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The evolution of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (C.A.D.C.) can be regarded as the opening of political Pandora box in the political situation of Mizoram. The issue has been propagated in different dimensions by certain political parties, civil societies and even the law-makers. The issue has been so tense and problematic because Chakmas are regarded as outsiders but Autonomous District Council has been created for the so-called outsiders with the trifurcation of the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council (P.L.R.C.) in 1972. It is an undeniable fact to admit that the original home of the Chakmas is Chittagong in Bangladesh and Chakma kingdom also flourished there since pre-British period. Chakmas appeared for the first time in Lushai Hills when the British authority engaged some Chakmas as Labour Corps with the permission of Chakma Queen, Kalindi Rani in the Lushai Expedition of 1871-1872, however, those Chakmas returned to Chittagong after the expedition. Thus, the Chakmas’ official association with Lushai Hills began in 1892 because of the transfer of some Chakma villages nearby Dimagiri from Chittagong administration to South Lushai Hills by the order of Sir Charles Elliot, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal but those Chakmas who were allowed to settle in South Lushai Hills were charged foreigner tax of Rupees Five per year. During that time, Chakma settlement was not found in Uiphum Tlangdung (Present CADC area) because Uiphum Tlangdung was the ancestral land of the Tlanglau and they ruled over the whole hill tracts. Other than the Tlanglau chiefs, there were also some chiefs from Bawm and Pang in the area. The geographical area of the present C.A.D.C. area was administered by the Tlanglau, Bawm and Pang chiefs since pre-British period and was known as Uiphum Tlangdung which means Uiphum Hill Range. The first Chakma migration in the Uiphum Tlangdung was recognized in 1905 and they were employed in the paddy field as workers by the Tlanglau chiefs. Chakma ’s population and influx from across the border increased at faster rate which led to the domination of the present C.A.D.C. area by the Chakmas. As a matter of fact, the Chakma Regional Council later on the Chakma Autonomous District Council (C.A.D.C.) surprisingly emerged as a result of the trifurcation of the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council (PLRC) in 1972 along with the creation and declaration of the Union Territory of Mizoram.

2. Status of the Chakmas in pre-independent era

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The Union minister Kiren Rijiju during his visit in the State was astonished to see this well preserved and unique temple in the hilltop of West Jaintia hills. This 500 Years old Durga temple is located at the hill top of Nartiang Village. The Home Minister had urged the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Government of Meghalaya to take necessary measures to make the village as the centre of attraction.