Council adopts resolutions

SHILLONG, JUNE 20: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has adopted three official resolutions which include the need to amend the AD rules that allows non-tribals to participate in the election process of the Council.

Moving the resolutions during the session of the Council held here, KHADC chief PN Syiem said, “These resolutions reflect the seriousness of the executive committee to protect the identity and interest of the indigenous people.”

He said that the council proposed to introduce the amendment of Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules 1951 in the House at a special session to be convened in October.

Participating in the discussion, Congress leader of opposition Manstudy Nongrem recalled that in 2011, he had suggested that instead of resolution, the council should immediately bring amendment to the AD rules.

“The urgency is in view that at present there is provision to bar people from other communities to either vote or contest in the district council elections. It is better to lose in the election if we are not being able to do anything on this,” he said.

He said that in his own constituency, about 50 percent of the population are non-Khasis and they have had candidates in the past contesting the elections of the Council.

Supporting the resolution, UDP MDC from Nongkrem HS Shylla said the district council is meant for protecting the tribals as he urged the EC to speed up the process of bringing the necessary amendment.

Stating that the rule 128 of the AD is a threat to the indigenous community, he also suggested the EC to seek the views and opinions of the stakeholders including the different organizations.

On the other hand, KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum, who has withdrew support to the ruling PDF on the issue, expressed hope that the resolution adopted will not fail.

He however suggested that the proposed amendment should be introduced in the first week of August.

In another resolution moved, the KHADC also resolved that to examine the trading licenses issued and to cancel those without proper documents.

Congress MDC Process T Sawkmie demanded that the over 400 fresh trading license issued by the Council as revealed by the RTI filed by the HYC should be examined.

Referring to the recent incident in which a woman was attack by a non-tribal vendor at Smit village, Shylla said it is the duty of the EC to check on non-tribal traders especially those who are going to rural areas to prevent such incidents.

He said that nobody knows whether the accused vendor has obtained trading license from the Council even as he suggested that the EC should not only concentrate on generating revenue but to protect the interest of local traders.

On the other hand, UDP parliamentary party leader Teinwell Dkhar suggested that the council should come up with strict provision to refrain the traditional dorbar from issuing rampant NOC as well as to check benami transaction.

Meanwhile, the KHADC also passed a resolution to relook into the appointment of agent to detect non-tribal labourers without proper documents, which if found not effective the same be scrapped.

While debating on this issue, leader of opposition Manstudy Nongrem suggested the need to constitute an assurance committee to ensure that the assurances made by the EC are fulfilled.

On this, the CEM assured that the EC would soon workout the modalities for setting up the assurance committee.