SHILLONG: The introduction of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Constitution of Council of Traditional Dorbar) Bill, 2016 was met with opposition on the first day of the budget session of the KHADC here on Friday.
HSPDP’s Mylliem MDC, Teilinia Thangkhiew took exception to the fact that the KHADC CEM will head the Council of Traditional Dorbar (COTD) once the Bill is passed. “This will account to playing a dual role by the CEM who will head both the Council and the COTD,” she said.
She was also averse to the idea of elected MDCs and traditional heads sitting and discussing important issues under one umbrella, the COTD.
She added that taking into account the bad shape of the financial position of the Council, providing the salaries/honorarium of the members, chairman, secretary of the COTD would be unfeasible.
She further added, “If the Bill gets passed it will meet hurdles.”
Echoing Thangkhiew, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, HSPDP’s Mawryngkneng MDC opposed the Bill arguing that it will be a mishmash of constitutional and non constitutional heads.
In his reply, KHADC CEM, PN Syiem said, “The fact that we are elected representatives does not signify that we cannot head board meetings. Moreover, the COTD is not a political platform. It will not supersede the Council and the Executive Committee.”
He clarified that the aim of COTD is to unify traditional heads under a common platform and to sort out differences within the traditional institutions.
Pyniaid, however, alleged that the CEM and the EMs have some vested interest in bringing the Bill.
“The streamlining of the various departments of the Council is more important at this moment,” he told the CEM.
In his reply PN Syiem said that administrative reforms will be carried out to streamline the various departments.
Meanwhile, the bill pertaining to the preservation of culture, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Conservation and Promotion of Khasi Social Custom and Tradition) was well received by Thangkhiew who suggested that the same be put up in public domain with an aim to preserve the customary practices of the indigenous people.
