NONGSTOIN: KHADC chief executive member P.N Syiem said on Saturday there was no law to empower traditional heads.
Addressing a gathering at a Campaign for Change (CFC) event here, Syiem said headmen in the State have been affected by the High Court order that has taken their power.
“Some of the headmen get arrested for issuing NOC. This is happening because we have no policy or law to empower the traditional heads,” he said.
Syiem also denounced those MDCs who resigned after the State Government passed the dual posts bill saying they knew nothing about the law or how to make a policy.
“People of the State should not have elected representatives who have no idea about policy-making,” he added.
Pitching for change in Meghalaya, Syiem pointed out that absence of various policies is leading to problems, like unemployment, in the State.
“We, the Khasi and Jaintia people, got the autonomous district councils under the Sixth Schedule to safeguard the interests of indigenous people. But today we are facing a series of problems. We have no power to mine coal in our own land. There are no policies to protect the citizens,” Syiem said.
Among other speakers were KHADC chairman LG Nongsiej and Mawshynrut MDC Morning Mawsor.
The campaign was held at Nongstoin market where hundreds of people attended.
The campaign was chaired by Jonah J. Kharir, a CFC leader.
CFC chairman Milom Warjri said the Campaign “is not a political party but a platform where young people, labourers, farmers and politicians can come together and discuss various issues, seek views and opinion from the public and then come up with a vision document”.
He said all voters have the power to change and the people of Nongstoin should refuse any candidate who tries to buy their votes.
