Meghalaya: KHADC rejects parliamentary committee recommendation to increase number of seats

SHILLONG:

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Tuesday rejected the proposal of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) of Home Affairs on the Constitution (Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019, which sought to increase the number of seats in the council.

KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM), Titosstar Chyne said that the recommendations of the PSC, on the 6th Schedule provisions, suggested that the seats in the council would depend on the population under the area coverage of the Autonomous District Councils (for Khasi Hills and Garo Hills). This would give KHADC 40 seats.

“But it will be difficult because if seats are increased, the condition of our constituencies will be affected since the financial resources and revenue are very less and it will affect the salary of the MDCs. That's why we disagree on the increase of seats.,” Chyne said.

However, Chyne added that the Executive Council (EC) of KHADC suggested that a few major constituencies, including Mawlai, Nongstoin, Mawshynrut, Jirang, and Mawrynkneng, can be bifurcated. “We have also recommended 35 seats with two nominated MDCs, with one reserved for a woman,” he added.

Apart from the increase in seats, the PSC had also recommended giving representation to underrepresented tribes, which was met with opposition previously when the recommendation was made in January, 2020. In the recent meeting of the KHADC, Chyne said the council maintained their previous stance that existing Dorbar Shnongs should be recognised as Village Councils.

A discussion on the issue between the three Autonomous District Councils of Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills and the state government will again be held on August 25 at the Secretariat.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had met all the CEMs of the three district councils in Shillong last week to discuss the issue and had asked them to submit their views and suggestions on the proposed amendments by this week. 

“Our stand and resolution are that the state government should accept our suggestions and send the same to the Home Ministry,” Chyne said.

Chyne recalled that the PSC had come to the state in 2019 to seek the opinions of all stakeholders, including NGOs and political parties, on the proposed amendment.

“A report was then sent to the home ministry then. But the EC had disagreed with some of the points recommended by the PSC as it would have affected the interest of the councils here,” he said.

Earlier, a conglomeration of traditional heads, social organisations, and student bodies submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the CEM of the KHADC on the proposed amendment of the 6th Schedule.

Speaking to reporters, one of the traditional heads, RL Blah said, "We don't want the Panchayati Raj system in Meghalaya. We want to preserve the existing district councils. And we want due recognition of the Dorbar Shnong as they are the last wall to protect the indigenous people.”

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