SHILLONG, DEC 12: The state government will convene a meeting with the KHADC and the traditional heads on December 14, to collectively decide on whether to recall the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2015, which is lying pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the chief minister Mukul Sangma with a delegation of the traditional heads under the banner of the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) held at the main secretariat here on Tuesday.
This was also after the Synjuk have earlier served an ultimatum to the state government to invite them for discussion on the matter.
“We have decided to have a joint meeting to be convened by the state government with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the SNSBH,” Sangma told reporters after the meeting.
Informing that he had spoken to the KHADC chief executive member (CEM) PN Syiem at the sidelines of the meeting, he said, “Since most of our friends will be busy due to elections, I have suggested the meeting be immediately held on December 14.”
“So, tomorrow will know whether December 14 will be considered as a convenient time for all of us. Now we are waiting for confirmation from the KHADC to be conveyed by the CEM himself which he promised to do so tomorrow,” he added.
The chief minister also said that the decision was also based on last year meeting held between the government and the Synjuk to have a joint meeting with the KHADC so that there will be no room for disconnect.
Stating that there is need for a collective exercise to see that an Act is made available to the people, Sangma said, “There is a need to have clarity on the way forward so that the need of the people to have a law to empower traditional institutions is put in place.”
Earlier last year, the state government had also suggested the KHADC to recall the VAB and take up necessary measures to amend certain conflicting provisions and pave way for the same to become an Act.
Asked, Sangma said that the matter relating to the need to recall the Bill was also discussed in today’s meeting in view that there are precedences where certain Bills which have been referred to the MHA have had their own natural deaths.
“Based on our experiences we have dwelt at length on this aspect whether there is a need to collectively decide. Therefore if need be what is best for the larger good of our people will be collectively decided (in the upcoming meeting),” he said.
Stating that is the reason why the conglomeration of traditional institutions is spending so much of time to prevail upon all concerns including the state government and KHADC, he said there is urgend need to have mandate of the law to empower traditional institutions.
It may be mentioned here, the Village Administration Bill was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in 2015 to empower the traditional institutions and their heads.
However, the Village Administration Bill has been lying pending for approval of the Governor. The former Governor, V Shanmuganathan had instead forwarded the Bill to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which was alleged to be unprecedented.
The MHA after examining the VAB had raised 12-point queries in its letter to the state government. The KHADC on the other hand claimed that it had already submitted the replies on the queries of the ministry to the state government but is yet to get any response.
On the allegation that both the KHADC and Synjuk were kept in the dark on whether the replies by the KHADC have been forwarded to the MHA, Sangma however said, “When there is no discussion there will be darkness. It is when we discuss then we know where we are, what the status is and what further course of action needed is.”
With regards to the stalemate between the government and the KHADC, the chief minister that certain barriers that come in the way are being dismantled now adding “Therefore will have a meeting to arrive at a decision which will be for the larger good of the people.”
Reacting to a query, Sangma said that the CEM had expressed that he is willing to attend the meeting as “we are all for the people and he too is also for the people”.
Whether the Synjuk is successful in acting as an mediator between him and the CEM, the chief minister however said whoever wants to play a constructive role in breaking barrier and dismantling anykind of whatever comes in the way, is for the larger good of the state.
By Our Reporter
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