SHILLONG: The effectiveness of the district councils in protecting the interest of the indigenous population came under scanner during a panel discussion organized here to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a Khasi daily.
The discussion under the topic “Ka Jaidbynriew kam donkam shuh ia ka District Council” (the local indigenous people no longer need the district council) was organised by Mawphor at Khasi National Dorbar, Mawkhar on Saturday.
Many who attended the panel discussion were of the opinion that the existence of the district council was irrelevant since it failed to deliver as per the spirit of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
It was also observed that there was more politicking among MDCs in the district council and little focus on issues mandated to the Council.
But despite reservations being expressed by many in the audience on the effectiveness of the Council, majority of the panelists save Maitshaphrang Movement chairman Michael Syiem felt that the Council still had a role to play and its existence is a necessity.
Syiem on the other hand was of the view that the Council should be abolished.
Those who voiced support for the Council include KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem, former KHADC CEM Bindo Mathew Lanong, HSPDP vice president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, KHNAM working president Adelbert Nongrum and SOMALA member Will Anthony.
Supporting his argument, Syiem said that the Council was only in news whenever there were talks of change of CEM due to the politicking among the MDCs or when there was suspension of Syiem of various Hima.
The Maitshaphrang Movement chairman also alleged that while the role of the Council was to protect forest land, it was instead encouraging large scale felling of trees.
“If not for the apex court ruling which banned the felling of trees, many of our forest areas would have denuded,” Syiem said.
He also said that many of the cement plants have been able to operate in the State due to No Objection Certificates (NOC) given by the Council.
“As per our RTI findings, the Council has given permission to the cement plants to operate even inside thick forest areas,” Syiem said.
Countering the argument, former KHADC CEM BM Lanong said that the Council was not at fault but the people who led the Executive Committee (EC) were responsible for the blunders.
“I admit that the people who led the EC in the past many years have failed to deliver. But I am totally against the arguments that the Council should be abolished only because of the wrongdoings of a few,” Lanong, who is also the UDP working president, said.
Lanong asserted that it was because of the existence of the Council that the interest of indigenous populace has been protected.
While referring to the Trading of Non-Tribals Regulation, 1954, he said that it is because of this law that the council has been able to regulate the business activities of the non-tribals.
Supporting the arguments of Lanong, KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem while agreeing that the functioning of the council has not been satisfactory of late said, “We can take steps to improve the functioning of the Council to ensure that it delivers as per its mandate.”
HSPDP leader Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the functioning of the Council can be improved by electing the right people.
The panel discussion was presided over by Rev K Pyrtuh.
