SHILLONG: KHADC Chief Executive Member HS Shylla said on Monday the deprivation of Khasi status clause is already mentioned in the Khasi Hill Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.
Reacting to the anti-bill groups’ argument on the loss of ST status, Shylla said, “It is nothing new as Section 10 of the Act of 1997 points to the ‘loss and deprivation of Khasi status. That time there was no reaction or protest.”
But he did not make it clear that if the clause was already there and what was the need for the second amendment.
Shylla thanked his JHADC counterpart, Madonbai Rymbai, for his support to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018, which was passed last month. However, Rymbai said the amendment bill should also mention about the marriage of a tribal man with a non-tribal woman.
“What if a tribal man marries a non-tribal woman that is not mentioned? It is not very clear. The bill talks only about tribal women,” he pointed out.
Rymbai also said the bill should mention about Khynriam, Pnar, Bhoi and War.
He took exception to the usage of Khasi to also mean Jaintia.
“The bill should not mention the word Khasi to include Jaintia since Jaintias often mention Pnars in ST certificate”, he said.
Clarifying the confusion, Shylla pointed to the Khasi Hill Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997, which defined a Khasi as a person belonging to Khasi tribe who may be a Khasi, Jaintia, Pnar, Synteng, War, Bhoi, Lyngngam or who is recognised or deemed as such under prevailing Khasi custom.
“We are recognised as one tribe. He (Rymbai) also said that Khasi men should also not be allowed to go for mixed marriage. I welcome the suggestion. On that note, we will look into it,” he said as he maintained that he would not allow the second amendment bill to face the same fate as the act of 1997.
“The Act of 1997 was passed on March 13, 1997, and assent (was given to it) on February 23, 2005. It is an insult to the autonomous body,” he said.
As for the protesters against the bill, Shylla asserted that sentiments of the majority have been considered “while it is only a few who are protesting as they are influenced by circumstances and it is natural for them to defend but their objection is immaterial”.
He referred to Article 29 (1) of the Indian Constitution that states, “Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.”
“We as a community have every right to preserve ourselves for our survival. All other minority communities are on the verge of extinction. If I am not mistaken, we also fall in that list,” he said, adding the interest of a community is of prime importance and not of an individual.
He said mixed marriage is a weapon to weaken any community.
Clans’ registration
The executive committee of the council has decided to direct the Syiem of Hima Mylliem as well as Syiem of other chiefdoms to immediately call all clans to register at their respective offices.
“The clans falling under Hima Mylliem should register at the office of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem. When it comes to marriage, clans have a huge responsibility to trace the lineage of both the parties to avoid conflicts,” Shylla said.
The Hima can submit the names to the Executive Committee of the KHADC.
Action against Theilin sought
Meanwhile, Shylla said the Executive Committee will write a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to take action against chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women Theilin Phanbuh and another member who were signatories in the anti-bill protest.
Shylla will also write to the state government to give back the authority to the KHADC to issue ST certificate. At present, tribals can obtain their ST certificate from the deputy commissioner’s office.
