Unanimity eludes KHADC
SHILLONG: The KHADC Executive Committee (EC) has decided to ‘refer back’ the Khasi Hill Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2013 to the Select Committee after several MDCs refused to pass the Bill in its present form.
The EC took the decision on the final day of the Council’s Autumn Session on Monday.
Participating in the discussion on the amendment motions moved by Laitkroh MDC Carmel Sohtun (KHNAM) and Nongkrem MDC Lambor Malngiang (Congress) on Monday, the MDCs from both the Treasury and Opposition benches argued that the Bill could not be passed in its present form “since there are glaring shortcomings which need to be corrected.”
“The best option is to the send the Bill to the Select Committee to plug its loopholes,” the MDCs said.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Malngiang said the provision for constitution of the Village Development Committee (VDC) would demean the age-old traditional institutions like the Dorbar Shnong.
“I foresee there would be a serious collision between the two bodies (VDC and Dorbar Shnong),” Nongkrem MDC said.
“We need to empower the Rangbah Shnong. If the chairman is allowed to head the VDC then there would be two power centres in the same locality or village,” Malngiang argued. While moving a similar amendment motion, the Laitkroh MDC said there were several loopholes in the Bill. “The best option is to resend the Bill to the Select Committee,” Sohtun said.
While participating in the discussion on the amendment motion, Langrin MDC Manstudy Nongrem (Congress) said that there are many clauses in the proposed Bill which might collide with the existing Bills of the various Himas and Syiemship.
“I have gone through the bill in details. I have seen there are provisions which might contradict with the Acts of the Nongstoin and Muharram Syiemship. We need to draw a line to prevent collision between the two laws formulated by the Council,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sohra MDC Tistosstarwell Chyne (UDP) said that with the passing of the village administration Bill, the schemes coming from both the Centre and State government will have to be routed through the VDC which will create a lot of confusion.
Stating that he was not opposing the Bill, Chyne, however, urged the House not to pass the Bill hurriedly and ensure that the VDC, if constituted, should function under the supervision of the Dorbar Shnong.
The KHADC CEM Pynshngaiñ N Syiem in his reply announced that the EC would resend the Bill to the Select Committee. “I would request the members to submit their suggestions on the bill within two-week time,” Syiem said.