SHILLONG, SEPT 17: The Consulative Committee constituted by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to stick to the “spirit” of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custome of Lineage) (2nd Amendment) Bill, which seeks to strip the Schedule Tribe (ST) status of Khasi women who marry non-Khasis.
The 17-member Consultative Committee was tasked to make recommendations after an indepth study of the provisions of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1977.
After holding its second sitting here on Monday, chairman of the committee Manstudy Nongrem said, “We have decided to stick to the spirit of the second amendment Bill passed earlier by the House of the Council.”
Nongrem said that before submitting its recommendations to the executive committee of the Council, the committee would also invite views and suggestions from all the stakeholders.
“We are working hard to give shape to the recommendations in the form of a Bill and complete the process at the earliest so that the same can be placed before the upcoming session of the House,” he said.
Informing that the committee will be sitting again on September 24, the chairman said that today’s meeting has also decided to co-opt W Kharkhrang, a retired secretary of the Council, who was part of framing the Act, 1977, as a member of the committee.
Earlier on the request of the KHADC, the state government had returned the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) first and second amendment Bills recently.
Asked, member of the committee Erwin K Syiem, who is also the legal adviser to the EC, said that the committee wanted to ensure that the proposed Bill will be a ‘weapon’ to protect the indigenous community.
“And all these misusing of the Schedule Tribe (ST) certificates (by people from other community) will end. The rights and privileges of the indigenous community will be protected through due process of law,” he said.
On the other hand, Syiem denied that the proposed move of the KHADC was having anything to do with human rights of the indigenous tribal women and said there is no question of ostracization as alleged by those who criticized the intention of the Bill.
Meanwhile with regards to the non participation of the JHADC, the chairman of the consultative committee however said that the Council is still waiting for the decision of the executive committee of the JHADC.
According to him, during the meeting held between the chief executive members (CEMs) of the two district councils, the JHADC had informed that it would first discuss the issue with the executive committee before sending representatives to be members of the committee.
By Our Reporter
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