Empowerment of traditional heads
SHILLONG: The State Government is likely to hold discussion with the HSPDP next week on various demands that the party has raised including the demand to have a state law to empower the Rangbah Shnong and Dorbar Shnong.
This was revealed by the party vice-president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit after submitting a memorandum to the State Government on Tuesday.
“The Government has accepted our stand on the need to have a legislation to empower various traditional institutions,” Basaiawmoit said.
Referring to the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the HSPDP leader said that the recent verdict of Meghalaya High Court had a huge impact on the society.
“We have urged the government to immediately suspend all official activities that attract the role of the Headmen and Durbar,” the HSPDP vice president said.
He further said that the party wanted a law which will define clearly the role of headmen and the powers of the village Durbars.
He also favoured early approval of the Village administration Bill passed by the KHADC which, according to him, would serve as an immediate remedy to the problem.
UDP Youth wing demand: Meanwhile, the UDP Youth Wing has urged the State Government to promulgate an ordinance within next 10 days “as an interim relief to the ongoing stalemate over powers and functions of traditional heads”.
“The Government can issue an ordinance to avoid further complications on the matter. The ordinance should briefly define the role, powers, responsibilities and general code of conduct of the traditional heads,” the UDP State Youth Wing stated in a memorandum submitted to the State Chief Minister on Tuesday.
The UDP youth body further felt that the committee on institutionalization of traditional heads under the Chairmanship of DD Lapang seemed to be a non-starter.