Meghalaya’s tribal identity will remain protected, says Conrad Sangma after Assam passes UCC Bill

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, May 27, said the Meghalaya government is carefully studying the provisions of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to ensure that the state’s tribal identity, traditional laws and matrilineal social structure remain protected.

His remarks came amid growing political and social debate in Meghalaya following the passage of the UCC Bill in neighbouring Assam.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said that when discussions on the UCC first began, debates were largely centred around the term itself, with many people uncertain about what the proposed law would include.

“Different concerns naturally emerged because there was no clarity initially on the structure and provisions of the law,” Sangma said.
He said that for Meghalaya, a tribal-majority state, the primary concern was whether implementation of the UCC could affect traditional tribal laws and the state’s matrilineal system.

Sangma said he had initially opposed the implementation of the UCC in Meghalaya, considering the distinct customs, traditions and social framework followed by tribal communities in the state.

However, after studying the UCC laws passed in states such as Uttarakhand and Assam, the government found that tribal laws had been kept outside the purview of the legislation.

“This has given us some level of assurance that tribal rights and traditional systems have been protected on paper,” he said.
At the same time, the Chief Minister clarified that the Meghalaya government is still examining all aspects of the law in detail and that no final decision or conclusion has been reached yet.

He stressed that the government would ensure that no national legislation affects Meghalaya’s tribal identity, customary laws or matrilineal social structure.

“Protection of tribal interests will remain our top priority,” Sangma added.