SHILLONG: A public meeting convened by the Thma U Rangli (TUR) on Tuesday resolved on the need to amend the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 which aims to streamline the functioning of the traditional institutions.
The meeting was unanimous that the bill needed to be amended to ensure that it is inclusive, democratic, accountable and transparent, adding that the bill has to withstand not only the constitutional test but also other legal challenges that will emerge in the court of law.
The unanimous voice that emerged from the meeting was that there are many flaws and loopholes in the bill and that these need to be rectified at the earliest before it is pushed for being passed.
“There are many anomalies in the VAB 2014 and discussions around the bill are ongoing. Hence we need consultations on this bill to further strengthen it so that it fulfills its mandate of protecting and empowering the people,” TUR member Angela Rangad said after the meeting.
She also observed that the bill should not bring confusion and chaos in the functioning and processes of village administration and should not destroy people’s rights and freedom that they enjoy in the Dorbar Shnong today.
Rangad also said that TUR stands firm that the bill needs major rectifications and through consultations will prepare the VAB Amendment Bill and submit the same to the government.
Earlier, the three-hour-long meeting saw heated debates with participants airing their views and giving points and counter points on various sections of the bill and also on the critique raised by TUR.
TUR reiterated that there is no obstacle in the way of bringing in these amendments to the bill so that the intent of the bill to democratically empower the villages and local bodies or Dorbar Shnong is fulfilled.
In addition to the deficiencies that TUR has indicated in the 16 out of 25 clauses of the bill those, participants pointed out to many others including the need to ensure a free and fair system of election of Rangbah Shnong.
The issue of women’s participation and representation was a much heated one wherein the majority felt that the VAB should open the way for this and not take away some already existent practices that have evolved wherein women are active participants of their respective Dorbar.Wapungskur Dorbar extends support to ex-KHADC chief .The Wapungskur Dorbar Shnong in East Jaintia Hills District has extended it support to former KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum in his indefinite hunger strike demanding passage of the Village Administration Bill.
“We have come forward to support the former KHADC CEM who is on a hunger strike to demand passing of the Village Administration Bill,” Wapungskur Rangbah Shnong Salty Ryngkhlem told newsmen here on Tuesday, while that members of the Dorbar would not hesitate in joining the hunger strike if the State Government continued to delay passing of the bill.
The Rangbah Shnong further stated that the Dorbar would extend full support to the family members Derest Siangshai and Setmon Phawa of Wapungskur village who were killed in police firing on September 24 at Mookhep.
He reminded that the Dorbar had submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Roshan Warjri who had assured that the family members of the victims would be looked after, but nothing has been done till date.
“We take this opportunity to remind the Home Minister of what she had promised,” Ryngkhlem said, while adding that the home minister had assured to look after the schooling needs of the victims’ children especially (L) Setmon Phawa who left behind seven children, but to no avail.
Support for Nongrum pours in from Ri-Bhoi
The Seng Nongrep Synrop Lang (SNSL) Ri Bhoi District has extended its support to the indefinite hunger strike staged by the former KHADC CEM.
SNSL also slammed the State Government for the inordinate delay in settling the matter.
Speaking at a meeting held at Pahamrioh in Ri-Bhoi District, SNSL president K. Suting lamented that the government had taken the people of the State for a ride by not taking any initiative to clear the bill passed by the KHADC in 2014.
Over two hundred farmers from different part of the district participated in the meeting.
