SHILLONG: KHADC chief executive member HS Shylla said on Wednesday the Council of Traditional Chiefs and Headmen, an umbrella body envisaged by the district council, can act as an advisor to the executive committee.
Speaking at the meeting, Shylla said the KHADC executive committee’s efforts to bring together the traditional heads under one umbrella was as per Paragraph 2 sub paragraph 7 (a) of the Sixth Schedule that states, “The District or the Regional Council may after its first constitution make rules 2 [with the approval of the Governor] with regard to the matters specified in sub-paragraph (6) of this paragraph and may also make rules [with like approval] regulating— (a) the formation of subordinate local Councils or Boards and their procedure and the conduct of their business.”
It may be mentioned that the EC has passed an executive order directing the formation of the umbrella body. “The Instrument of Accession (IoA) should not be forgotten by the traditional heads. It should be the priority of every traditional head. It should be understood on how we became a part of India is through this route,” Shylla said and added that the body can advise on matters envisaged in the Council of Traditional Chief and Headmen Rules, 2018.
He added that the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement should be studied in depth to know on how the 25 Khasi states became a part of India.
Shylla said the traditional heads should remind the EC of the KHADC to allot some money for the traditional heads. He added that for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP), the power lies with the council in schedule areas.
On taking father’s surname and to do away with matrilineal society, he said “If this happens, we don’t need enemies. It will be an inroad for the Indian Government to set up a Panchayat here.”
He said that the KHADC is likely to hold a special session on October 10 as the consultative committee will sit for its last meeting on Thursday. After it submitted a report to the EC and it will likely call a special session on October 10 to pass the Bill and get the approval of the governor.
Boundaries vigil: Shylla urged traditional heads to work together and prepare the demarcation of their respective boundaries of their respective Hima and Elaka.
As the demand for Garo land, he said the Hima and Elaka should be prepared with respective boundary especially the ones sharing boundaries with Garo Hills.
Again, he said that the Hima and Shnong should also work out boundaries with Assam and Bangladesh.
Shylla said that training should be provided to traditional heads on good governance as well.
Drugs and sexual abuse: Speaking on rising drugs and rape cases in the state, he said, “Uprooting the menace of drugs and rape should be the priority of the traditional heads.” He said that they have distributed pamphlets warning against committing rape and indulging in drug abuse.