By Rudi Warjri
The purpose of this article is to raise a very fundamental question on the whole institution of the Dorbar Shnong and with it the Rangbah Shnong and to put things in perspective. And that is its sustainability; primarily the lack of financial sustainability. Where does its funding come from? Does it have a budget? Does it have a revenue model? I find it mind boggling when I am told that the primary source of funding of the Dorbar Shnong comes from the MLA scheme. Is the MLA scheme that big to take care of all the Dorbar Shnongs under a constituency? Some villages may do more with nominal contributions by each household in the village.
What are the services rendered by the Dorbar Shnong? Issuing residential certificates, dealing with garbage clearance, maintaining cleanliness in the localities, facilitating water or electricity connections of residents, assisting during funerals , weddings and other social events. Dorbars work with other governmental agencies for better roads, better water supply, better health facilities. They assist the authorities when there is a program for issuance of epic cards , ration cards, aadhar cards etc . Also they assist the authorities in situations relating to crime, vandalism etc. In the past they used to even intervene in divorce cases with mutual consent. Perhaps this is still prevalent in the interior villages. I acknowledge the work and sincerity of some of the Rangbah Shnong and Dorbar Shnong in doing their best despite myriad limitations.
What are the visible ills that we see today in our localities? Littering and spitting anywhere and everywhere; garbage where it says, “no garbage to be thrown.” Stinking and clogged drains, unregulated and sub- standard sanitation and improper sewage system; urinating and even defecating on the road sides and by-lanes. This can cause diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis etc., Then there’s water shortage in one part and overflowing wastage on the other; potholes in roads; naked violations of parking where it says “no parking.” Footpaths for pedestrians are blocked by hawkers; narrow roads that have no footpaths for pedestrians and school children to walk on. This is made worse by random stoppage of cars especially taxis anytime, anywhere, thereby making life hell for rule observing motorists.
Going a step further, what can I as a normal enlightened citizen in this age of technology and aspiration for a Smart city expect from my Rangbah Shnong and the Dorbar Shnong! Not to talk of fifty years from now! To deal with the growing pressures on infrastructures because of increasing numbers of multi-storied buildings; four cars in a house; tenants looking for a house with parking space , good roads, sanitation and sewage standards, garbage collection etc., We see rivers gradually narrowing or even disappearing because of garbage dumping on the slopes down to the river. There is also the maintenance of law and order where localities are free from drunks and drug addicts. What about parks for children to play in every locality? It is sad to see children playing on the roads and by- lanes because of lack of recreation spaces. And then dealing with major issues like earthquakes? Let us not forget that one of the biggest earthquakes in the world took place here in 1897.
The draft Village Administration Bill (VAB)of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has sections on Powers and Functions of the Dorbar Shnong; Duties and Responsibilities of the Dorbar Shnong ; Duties , Accountability and Responsibility of the Rangbah Shnong and Village Development Council. Wonderful ! Why not, if it can be done! It is however totally muted about where the funding will come from. For that matter the KHADC itself has to depend on the State Government for its sustenance. And let us keep in mind that even the State Government gets 90 funding from the Central Government.
The subject of Dorbar Shnong in Khasi Hills has been a subject of intense debate for quite a while now, ever since the Meghalaya High Court questioned the constitutional validity of this institution because of arbitrary actions and abuse of mandate by some vis-à-vis issuance of ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NoC) and ostracizing of people in some villages. The subject has become even more complicated after it became a turf war between the KHADC and the State Government. KHADC had since then claimed to be the sole authority on the subject of Dorbar Shnong and appointment of Rangbah Shnong. It has come out with the aforementioned multi- pages VAB draft which was submitted to the Governor for his assent . The VAB was referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) for its comments. MHA has returned it with further queries. When the matter will settle, God alone knows. The State Government did come out with a shorter ordinance of its own to empower the Dorbar Shnong but allowed it to lapse for reasons not publicly known .
The subject has attracted responses from scholars and academics and those whipping up emotions and protests. The plethora of pressure groups or so called NGOs and competing political parties have joined in the melodrama. Emotions run high particularly because the Dorbar Shnong is portrayed as traditional and part and parcel of Khasi customs and therefore nothing should be done to disturb the age-old customary practice. Whether the institution has outlived its utility or not, should not be questioned, according to the protagonists. Threat to the indigenous (in a State ruled by the indigenous) has been propagated and a culture of fear being escalated. Sane and circumspect thinking has taken a back seat. In fact it has become an ‘ego’ tussle and a fight for prestige. Even more complex, is the desire to get the best of all worlds by some who serve in the Government but at the same time demonstrated bellicosity towards the same Government in the name of Tradition. The angle of sustainability of the institution particularly financial sustainability is totally missed .
I am very much for tradition but not traditionalism. I am for what the preamble of the VAB states about tenets of Khasi values, “to acknowledge man is to acknowledge God; to strive for righteousness and justice; to accept what is right and reject what is wrong; to hold on to propriety and honour; word of honour and upholding the honour of the spoken word.” These are also basic human values not simply Khasi values . Traditionalism is an ideology and a dogma. If at all, the dogma should be pragmatism. William Somerset Maugham says “ Tradition is a guide , not a jailer”. The renowned Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti says, “Tradition becomes our security . And when the mind is secure it is in decay”. And this is exactly what is happening here!
Coming to financial sustainability, no human being or creature can live without food. For a human being to buy food some resource is a must, be it income or loan or charity. The same applies when the human being has a family. His / Her effectiveness for the family depends on the income or loan or charity that can be generated. The more financial resource a family has the better it can afford housing, education, health. And for the more well to do even annual vacations! This norm applies to the community or village and society as a whole. And since according to practice the Khasi village is headed by a Rangbah Shnong, his effectiveness in the village depends on the financial resource he is able to generate .
Assuming that the VAB becomes operational, the Dorbar Shnong would need an office with at least minimum facilities like telephone, computer , stationary, supporting staff , proper furniture for holding meetings , etc . Now coming to the core part, to expect voluntary service and to execute all that is listed in the VAB is living in a fantasy world of make believe. Can the existing institution of Rangbah Shnong and Dorbar Shnong do justice as stated in the VAB without any proper funding ? NO!
So the next question that arises is what are the options? Time to have a relook at the 73rd amendment of the Constitution and adopt the Panchayati Raj model, in which case the funding which has been denied so far can follow like in the rest of India. The grassroots elections under Panchayati Raj also means grassroots democracy. Under the present system of Dorbar Shnong there are no proper elections. The argument that party politics will enter into social governance is untenable . Politics exists between two human beings. It exists in families . It exists within the existing institution of Dorbar Shnong. It exists in Churches. So let us not fool ourselves by pretending to be worried about party politics camouflaged by our own entrenched vested interests. Take the example of the Shillong Municipality, one of the reasons that it failed to deliver is denial of funding from the Centre due to its inability to hold municipal elections. Like the Panchayati Raj there should be clarity about election, authority, responsibility and accountability with a paid salary and a full time job subjected to RTI, PIL etc.
Tradition, culture and customs mean nothing without an economic base and resource . Empires have fallen and cultures have disappeared when economic resource dwindled. Learn from history. I repeat, we cannot have the best of all worlds. Wanting to have palatial houses, fancy cars , gadgets and gizmos and Smart city and yet medieval in thinking is a no brainer.
Let’s accept that even though there are lots of rich people the State is poor. Majority of the population are allergic to the word ‘income tax.’ Therefore any opening and opportunities for resource from the Centre or any other source should be explored. Ineffective institutions and white elephants should go. In my view the earlier the redundant Autonomous District Councils(ADCs) are abolished the better . The very rationale for the creation of the State of Meghalaya was the infirmities and shortcomings of the ADCs to serve the interests of the hill people. Abolition also applies to the several a dime a dozen Chairman and Co-Chairman of something called Employment Generation Council ( God alone knows how much employment the council has generated); Resource Mobilization Council ( God alone knows how much resource it has mobilized) and many other such other parasitic institutions. Lack of transparency has allowed these institutions to thrive. Time to dismantle them!