It took a woman MDC to move a pro-woman Bill
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The second day of the budget session in the KHADC on Wednesday witnessed a heated debate over the increasing number of cases of ‘desertion’ in the Khasi matrilineal society. Khasi matriliny is known for high attrition rates in marriage and men wantonly deserting their wives.
While moving a motion on this critical issue, the NCP MDC from Mylliem constituency Teilinia S Thangkhiew said the primary reason for such a dismal societal drift is because the majority of marriages are unregistered.
“Since the majority of marriages in our Khasi matrilineal society are unregistered, and co-habitation is an accepted part of the Khasi social milieu it is easy for the man to desert the woman and children he has fathered since the marriage is not legally recognised,” Thangkhiew said.
She further pointed out that the husband can avoid paying maintenance since the wife cannot approach a court of law as the marriage is not registered.
“I believe there is urgent need for a law to be formulated by the Council to protect the interests of Khasi women. By having such a law in place, it would help to check the undue advantage that male members of the society are enjoying by exploiting the loophoes,” the NCP MDC said.
While suggesting that the Council can always recall the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation & Registration of Marriage & Divorce) Bill 2005 which is pending with District Council Affairs (DCA) department, she said that the Bill can be improved upon by incorporating the views of the various stakeholders, church leaders and NGOs.
Ms Thangkhiew reiterated her point that it is incongruous to witness this continued exploitation of women in a state known for its matrilineal moorings and where women are ‘supposedly’ given a special status.
“As a people’s representative I have personally met many women who have to take care of their own children after being abandoned by their husbands. Many of them have to work as maids by carrying their children on their backs,” Thangkhiew said.
While also expressing concern on this issue, Mawkyrwat HSPDP MDC Enbin K Raswai also felt that the Council should formulate a stringent law in this connection.
‘I feel that the society can also play an active role on this issue by taking upon itself the responsibility of curbing the licentiousness displayed by men folk,” Raswai said.
Mawlai UDP MDC Embhah Syiemlieh however observed that many non-tribals have taken advantage of the loosely organised marital ties.
“We have seen several cases where a non-tribal marries a Khasi woman to suit his business interests. Many non-tribals are running their businesses in the name of their wives. This is what we call the benami-transaction,” Syiemlieh said.
Nongpoh Congress MDC Dr Celestine Lyngdoh however emphasized on the need to create awareness about the various laws where women can approach the courts to get maintenance from their husbands.
Dr Lyngdoh also informed that the Supreme Court has recently passed a ruling where a woman even in a live-in relationship for more than a year with any person can seek for maintenance.
While pointing out that it is not a case that women are always exploited, Lyngdoh said there are cases where a woman also enters into several relationships out of personal choice.
In his reply, KHADC CEM Pyngshngain N Syiem also admitted that a special law to address this problem is called for.
“I do not think a marriage law passed by the Centre would be able to check our problems. We need an indigenous marriage law which is tailored to our needs which people from the rural areas can easily understand,” Syiem said.
He also agreed to the proposal of the Mylliem NCP MDC that the Council can recall the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation & Registration of Marriage & Divorce) Bill 2005 to further improve upon it.