Guwahati, April 22 -- The Meghalaya government is moving to create a Scheduled Tribe (ST)-exclusive electoral roll for elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), a step aimed at tightening control of indigenous communities over governance in Sixth Schedule areas.

Officials said the proposal seeks to ensure that only ST voters can participate in GHADC elections, aligning the electoral process with the constitutional intent of protecting tribal autonomy. The move follows long-standing demands from indigenous groups in the Garo Hills, who have argued that the existing system leaves room for dilution of tribal political authority.

The planned reform is expected to directly impact land governance and representation with...