SHILLONG: UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday made a series of suggestions including direct funding from the Centre to the traditional bodies and participation of women in Dorbar as part of modernizing the traditional bodies.
Participating in a resolution moved by Jemino Mawthoh (UDP) in the State Assembly for the Government to define the role and responsibilities of Dorbar Shnong, Lyngdoh said that it would be logical to take the remarks of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi forwarded by providing direct funding by the Union Government to the Dorbar Shnong.
“The former Prime Minister, who piloted the Panchayati Raj Bill, had said that Meghalaya enjoyed a special system of traditional governance and in this context, it would be logical to ensure that the office of the Dorbar Shnong gets direct funding from Centre,” Lyngdoh said.
The legislator also asserted that the traditional institutions should evolve as engines of modern democracy.
He said that there are a lot of complaints against the traditional heads that they resort to corruption and nepotism.
“If the holder of an office tends to be corrupt, it is because he does not enjoy emolument or salary,” Lyngdoh said indicting the need to financially empower the traditional heads.
“In today’s age, the Dorbar Shnong is required to discharge several responsibilities and it is difficult to think of discharging duties voluntarily without any financial remuneration”, Lyngdoh said, adding that first and foremost Dorbar Shong should come under the scheme of direct funding as it is done in the case of Panchayats.
The UDP member asserted that the institutionalization of traditional institutions in the state would end nepotism which is being practised in Khasi-Jaintia Hills even as he said that there should be a fixed tenure for the office of the Dorbar Shnong, preferably five years.
The legislator also added that the minimum educational qualification for Rangbah Shnong should not be below matriculation as this will help him to deal with many matters with maturity.
“A Rangbah Shnong carries out various responsibilities and signs important documents, and if he deals with Government departments and other agencies, he cannot be an illiterate”, Lyngdoh said.
The legislator also suggested that there is a need to ensure gender equality and added that women should also pro-actively participate in the affairs of Dorbar Shnong.
“More than half of the population of the state is women, so why should they be debarred from participating in the affairs of Dorbar Shnong”, Lyngdoh asked
Earlier moving the resolution, UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoth said that the High Court ruling on curbing the powers of traditional institutions should be an eye opener for the state government.
Stating that the traditional institutions have played a very important role in their own domain, Mawthoh said that they existed even before Meghalaya was carved out.
Mawthtoh said the traditional institutions partner with the Government for maintenance of peace and security and added that the Government time and again admitted the contributions of traditional institutions in civil matters.
In his reply, District Council Affairs Minister H.D.R Lyngdoh said that the institutionalization of these traditional bodies is the best way to address all the concerns.
He added that the state government had convened a meeting of political parties, civil societies and Rangbah Shnong on March 4 to discuss the recent High Court ruling and it was unanimously decided to constitute a committee headed by legislator D.D Lapang to study the entire matter.
“The terms of this committee are being finalized,” he said, adding the government will wait for the report of the committee and act accordingly.
He also informed that the Village Administration Bill of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council is being examined by the State Government.
The minister also asserted that the State Government will not interfere with the lawmaking power of the District Councils even as he said that the Government would ensure that the laws of the District Councils are under the ambit of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Suggestions
lDirect funding to Dorbar Shnong
lFixed tenure of 5 years for Rangah Shong
lWomen participation in Dorbar
lMinimum qualification for Rangbah Shnong is matriculation
lNew approach to end corruption, nepotism