SHILLONG, NOV 4: Under pressure, the Congress led Khasi Hills United Democratic Alliance (KHUDA) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) decided to “refer-back” the proposed KHADC Village Administration Bill, 2013 to the Select Committee (SC) for further tuning.
During the course of the debate on the motion moved by Laitkhroh MDC Carmel Sohtun on the last day of the winter session of the Council on Monday, most of the members had expressed the need to bring in more amendments to the bill and demanded that it should be sent back to the SC.
The amendments sought by members including those relating to the powers and functions between the Dorbar Shnongs and the Village Development Council (VDC), functions of the traditional headman, and some other clauses of the Bill.
“The Bill would be refer-back to the Select Committee for further study and examination before it is pass by this House,” the Council’s chief Pynshngainlang N Syiem assured during the course of his reply.
He urged the members to submit their views and suggestions to the select committee within two weeks time.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Carmel Sohtun said, “The Bill still suffers from several loopholes which might bring confusion and division among the functionaries of the traditional system.”
Pointing the lacunae clause by clause, he said, “Clause 14 of the Bill which speaks about the functions of the Village Development Council (VDC) clearly shows that the Bill seeks to delimit the powers of the Dorbar Shnongs,”
Referring to clause 18 on removal of office bearers of the VDC, he however said, “Such powers should be given only to the Dorbar Shnongs on matters relating to removal of office bearers.”
According to the bill, all villages are to constitute the VDC for the purpose of planning, implementation and monitoring of schemes from the government.
Echoing similar reservation, UDP MDC from Sohra Titus W Chyne said, “If the Bill is being implemented, we understand that the schemes coming from both the centre and state government will have to be routed through the VDC which will bring in a lot of confusion,” even as he suggested that the Council should empower the Dorbar Shnongs and let them decide whether they want to constitute the VDC or not in their villages.
Stating that he is not opposing the Bill, Chyne however urged the house not to pass the Bill in hurry and ensure that the VDC if constituted should functions under the supervision of the Dorbar Shnongs.
Congress MDC from Nongkrem Lambor Malngiang while proposing the amendments said, “The Bill only allow people from other communities to interfere with the tradition and customs of the local indigenous since according to the Bill, in those villages where local Khasis are being outnumbered by non-indigenous they can be part of the VDC which is not welcomed.”
Stating that the Bill needs fine tuning, he suggested that the Bill needs to be referred-back to the SC and that committee should be headed by the Council’s judge.
On the other hand, Sohtun proposed that Clauses 9 & 10 of VA Bill should be reconsidered which talks about the duties, accountability and responsibility of the headman. “In the Bill, the headman is being handcuffed with so many responsibilities despite the fact that the headman is more like a social activist, though elected by the people and works without pay.”
Sohtun said “Under clause 9 (6) which directs the headman to provide annual reports and audited statement of accounts to the dorbar shnong through the executive dorbar there is still confusion.”
Referring to clause 18 on removal of office bearers of the VDC, Sohtun however said, “Such powers should be given only to the Dorbar Shnongs on matters relating to removal of office bearers.”- By Our Reporter
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