SHILLONG: The KHADC MDCs have expressed concern on the increasing number of cases of marriage of local people with those from other communities and have castigated the Executive Committee (EC) for failing to follow up on the Registration of Marriage Bill passed by the Council seven years ago.
While moving a motion on the impact of marriage of local people with other non-tribal communities and the need to come up with a marriage act to regulate the same as per the local conditions, on Wednesday, Jaiaw MDC Adelbert Nongrum (KHNAM) questioned the Council for not doing anything to check these kinds of marriages.
“We need to have a legislation to regulate such marriages in order to preserve the identity of our small community,” Nongrum said, while also adding that they should also check this trend by denying Scheduled Tribe status to those indigenous women who marry non-indigenous men.
“The EC should have pursued with the State Government for passage of this important bill. It is really shocking that the Bill is lying with
the State Government for the past seven years due to the failure of the Council to follow up on the issue,” the Jaiaw MDC said.
Nongrum, however, lauded the State Government for enacting the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012.
While supporting the motion, Sohra MDC Tistosstarwell Chyne (UDP) said that such marriages affect the local customs and traditions, as well as education opportunities and employment.
Chyne also pointed out that even migrants come to mining areas as labourers but later they become mine owners after marrying local women.
While referring to the Supreme Court ruling, Nongthymmai MDC Latiplang Kharkongor (KHNAM) said that the apex court in 2006 had made it clear that children born out of the wedlock between a forward caste male and a tribal woman cannot claim reservation benefits provided for Scheduled Tribes.
Mawlai MDC Embhahlang Syiemlieh (UDP) also pointed out that people from outside come to the State with an intention to settle which leads to influx problem, adding that the simple method they have been adopting is through marriage. Meanwhile, Executive Member in charge Marriage and Divorce, Otril Pamshong, said the views expressed by the members would be taken up before the Council’s Executive Committee to discuss the need to bring in regulations on this issue.