As expected the election results to the two District Councils were a mixed bag. While the Congress did well in the KHADC, the NPP scored well in Jaintia Hills. Interestingly a video that has gone viral shows the NPP MLA and minister Sniawbhalang Dhar preventing non-NPP voters from casting their votes and literally telling them to get out of the queue. Both money and muscle power have played a dominant role in the Jaintia Hills this time too. The return of a few political stalwarts like Paul Lyngdoh, Ronnie Lyngdoh, Martle Mukhim and PN Syiem to the KHADC might help inject more pragmatism in the Council. Hopefully this time the Council will not threaten to exclude its own people merely because they exercise the right of choice in their personal lives. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was enacted to empower the tribes, who were, at the time of Independence, part of the larger state of Assam with a majority non-tribal population. Interestingly, it was not the Sixth Schedule that came up with a protective clause to prevent land alienation. The state legislature enacted the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act 1978 which prohibits sale of land to non-tribals except if it is in tribal interest. There are records to show that the British brought all of Jaintia Hills under its revenue jurisdiction. The Jaintias were asked to pay land tax to the British, which they disagreed and for resisting which the freedom fighter Kiang Nangbah was hanged in the market square. Historians claim that in Jaintia Hills land is owned by the state unlike in Khasi Hills where land is owned by communities, clans and individuals with Government owning only some revenue plots.
The District Councils on their part seem to have lost control over many of their mandated duties of protecting forests, rivers and natural resources. Actually it is the Councils that should be the real custodians of the environment since it is directly linked to human health and sustainability. But a look at the mining activities (both coal and limestone) reveal that the Councils have simply washed their hands off the responsibility of preventing extractive mining without environmental protection laws in place. Protecting the rivers from pollution is also the brief of the Councils which they have disregarded all these years. The Umkhrah, the Myntdu, Lunar and Lukha which are defiled must receive the attention of the Councils. The Councils also have to take a call on pro-actively promoting the language and culture of the tribes and not leave this entirely to the State Government.