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SHILLONG, February 26
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Friday flayed introduction of the KHAD (Constitution of Traditional Dorbars) Bill, 2016 by the ruling People’s Democratic Front (PDF) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) while terming the move as an effort to politicize the traditional institutions in the Khasi Hills.
Speaking during the first day of the ongoing Budget Session of the KHADC on this issue, the HSPDP MDC from Sohryngkham, Pyniaid Sing Syiem alleged that the said bill is being introduced in haste and that it will lead to a lot of confusion.
In this regard he referred to Section 3 of the said Bill which reads, ‘There shall be a council to be known as the Council of Traditional Dorbar comprising all the elected and nominated Member of District Council, the Chief and his Dorbar, two from each Dorbar Raid and the Dorbar Shnong.’
Driving home his point, Syiem asked if this would mean that traditional heads will be allowed to sit in the House with the MDCs.While pointing out that the district council already has the Elaka department to look and address the issues related to the grass root institutions, Syiem questioned the necessity for having another dorbar for the same purpose.
“If you (CEM) want to bring about that unity, we suggest the District Council to first streamline all its departments especially by ensuring that the Elaka department takes upon itself the responsibility to work with the grass root institutions,” he added. Echoing similar views, HSPDP MDC from Mylliem, Teilinia Thangkhiew said, “MDCs are elected representatives and they are totally different from traditional heads. I totally disagree with this move to include the MDCs under the same platform.”
Accusing the CEM of trying to play a ‘dual-role’, Thangkhiew said, “How can the CEM who is the head of the District Council be a chairman of the traditional dorbar. This is a dual role.”
She also pointed out the Appointment and Succession of Chiefs and Headmen Act prohibits traditional heads from engaging in politics.
Further pointing out section 7 of the Bill which seeks to provide honorarium to the members of the Council of Traditional Dorbars (COTD), she said, “I wonder from where the District Council, which is at the moment facing huge financial crunch will get the funds to pay such honorarium to all the members of the COTD.”
She also expressed her fear that this Bill will suffer the same fate of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015, which is still pending the approval of the Governor of Meghalaya.
Meanwhile in his reply, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the KHADC, Pynshngainlang Syiem said that the COTD is not a political platform.
“This (COTD) is not a political platform. Just because we are MDCs it doesn’t mean that we can no longer be part of any board,” Syiem argued.
He also said that the KHADC has been compelled to come up with the Bill in light of the state government’s attempt to bulldoze and dilute the powers of the District Council.
“We have also seen instances where misunderstandings arise from the feeling that the District Council is steamrolling over the powers of the Himas or the Himas over the dorbar shnong. It is with this in mind the district council has decided to come up with the COTD as a platform for resolving such issues,” he said while adding “Many sensitive issues were spoiled due to absence of such a platform.” He also pointed out that the decisions made by the COTD cannot be taken as absolute as these decisions will have to be put up before the executive committee of the KHADC or the House, which will have the power to reject or accept them.
Taking a strong stance for the passing of the Bill, Syiem urged the House not to oppose it without first knowing what it is all about.
