SHILLONG: The Balat People Federation (BPF) has demanded that all adult males of the Hima should be allowed to vote to appoint a full-fledged Syiem of Hima Bhowal.
“We cannot continue with the old-age practice that only a representative from the seven clans will be allowed to take part in the election of the Syiem. With the change of time, there is a need to adopt a new practice for the overall interest of the people of the Hima,” BPF president T. Thongni said while addressing a press conference here on Friday.
Meanwhile, he said that the association appreciates the attempt of the present Executive Committee (EC) in the KHADC headed by Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit to bring reforms in the prevailing practice of election of the Syiem in the various Hima.
The BPF president also questioned present Acting Syiem, Kynsai N Syiem, for not convening the meeting of the Hima for the past several years.
“The present Acting Syiem has also failed to place the financial report before the Dorbar Hima. As residents of the Hima we have the right to know the various expenses of the Hima during the past five years,” he said.
Thongni also demanded that Rangbah Shnong of the various villages under the Hima should be nominated as members of the Executive Committee of the Dorbar Hima.
Mentioning that the term of office of the Acting Syiem is only for six months, Thongni said that the present Acting Syiem has managed to continue in his chair for the past five years since his brother Pynshngain N Syiem (MLA and MDC of Mawsynram) was the CEM of the KHADC. “Otherwise, the election of the Syiem of Hima Bhowal would have been held a long time back,” Thongni said.