Committee to empower traditional institutions fails to meet even once
SHILLONG: UDP working president and former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong on Thursday attacked D.D. Lapang, Chairman of the Committee to empower traditional institutions, for his failure to call a single meeting to discuss the issue.
Lanong said that during the meeting held on March 4 which resulted in the formation of a committee chaired by former Chief Minister Lapang, there was no discussion on the promulgation of an ordinance which is now being suggested by Lapang.
Moreover, Lanong also criticized Lapang for not being able to convene a single meeting of the Committee to empower the traditional institutions.
While commenting on a statement of Lapang that the Government should appeal against the verdict of High Court on headman, Lanong said that there was no room for appeal as the law is yet to be framed to give legal sanction to the role of headman.
The High Court of Meghalaya in its order of December 10 last has made it clear that there was no law defining the role of headmen, Lanong said.
The UDP leader also said that the Government failed to give any nod to Village Administration Bill resulting in the present chaos over the High Court ruling on headmen.
Giving a solution to the current impasse, Lanong said that the Government should give approval to the Village Administration Bill.
According to Lanong, while the State Government should have given nod to the Village Administration Bill and the subsequent assent of the Governor which would have ensured empowerment of traditional institutions, there was lack of response in this regard by the Government resulting in the present situation.
