KHADC accuses Centre of indirectly introducing Panchayati Raj in Meghalaya

His statement came following the clarification sought by different traditional dorbar shnongs on the recent direction of the community and rural development (C&RD) blocks to form the Gram Sabha committees for availing the scheme.

It was also informed that the scheme ‘my village my development plan’ is being implemented directly by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

“This is nothing but an attempt to indirectly introduce the Panchayati Raj system in our tribal villages,” Shylla told reporters here on Thursday.

Though the Council is yet to receive any official communication from the state government on this regard, the chief executive member however said he only came to know about the scheme from the traditional heads in his Nongkrem constituency.

Stating that the Council strongly opposed such move by the Centre, Shylla said, “It seems that the Centre want to win the people by pumping funds through such schemes.”

He however warned if such schemes are allowed to be implemented in the state the powers of the traditional institutions will no doubt be diluted.

“While the Council had recently amended its AD Rules to ensure only tribals can have voting rights in its elections, this scheme however stated that any adult persons can be part of the Gram Sabha,” he said while appealing to the dorbar shnongs to be vigilant on the matter.

Asked, the chief executive member informed that an emergent meeting of the executive committee would also be convened on Monday to decide on the course of action by the Council on this matter.

“We will immediately sit and if required may even convene a special session to discuss on this issue,” he said.

Earlier while expressing concern on the matter, KHADC executive member in-charge Land, Mines & Minerals Latiplang Kharkongor said that the scheme was introduced despite the fact that Meghalaya have been exempted from the Panchayati Raj system.

According to him, such move only seeks to dilute the traditional institutions covered under Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

“What is more worrying is that the status of the Sarpan (head) of the Gram Sabha is equal to that of a Rangbah Shnong besides elections of the Gram Sabha will also be held and this will later open up opportunity for people from other tribes to demand for their rights to be part of the committee,” he said.

Kharkongor, who is also an MDC from Nongthymmai constituency, further questioned the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for allegedly “intruding” into the Sixth Schedule areas. “We feel the ministry should only concentrate in states having the panchayati raj system,” he added.

Meanwhile, the EM also appealed to all the dorbar shnongs under the jurisdiction of the Council to refrain from welcoming such schemes which threatens the existence of traditional institutions in their respective areas.

By Our Reporter