Annual Dorbar once a year must for all localities
SHILLONG: Chairman of Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, John Kharshiing has urged the 15 MDCs of Hima Mylliem to constitute a committee to review the Mylliem Act 2007-2008, Rules 2015 and Act 1959 so as to empower the citizens.
In a statement issued here, Kharshiing said he met KHADC Executive Members, Paul Lyngdoh and Teibor Pathaw to apprise them of the lacuna existing in the Mylliem Act 2007-2008, Rules 2015 and the 1959 Act.
According to the Mylliem Act 2007, the Syiem and Dorbar must convene the Dorbar Hima at least once in a year which has not happened till date, Kharshiing said, adding that since the last two decades no annual Dorbar Hima was held and no accounts and reports read or circulated to the people with the excuse that there was a new Acting Syiem.
‘There was no clarity in the provisions and procedures which enable the citizens or the KHADC to convene the Dorbar Hima in the presence of U Khun U Hajar (the public) which is the Apex decision making body of the Hima Mylliem’, he said. He said the convening of the Dorbar Hima along with u khun u hajar is imperative for the functioning of governance at the grassroots level.
Further, he said there are also cases where some of the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid including the ruling clans (Myntri, Basan, Lyngdoh) do not convene their respective annual Dorbar to submit reports before their citizens while provisions state that the annual Dorbar Shnong must be convened once a year and all audited statements submitted before the Dorbar. Kharshiing said to resolve the issues of governance, KHADC MDCs and the State MLAs must have the political will to finalise the structure of governance to empower the people which would require positive amendments to the Mylliem Acts 2007 and Rules 2015 to ensure that all anomalies are removed and provisions are complied with as per law.
Another example of overlapping authorities is the issue of Harijan Colony wherein he said that there are two documents that are used to claim the land at the Harijan Colony and the one relates to Hima Mylliem documents. He asserted that such flaws are serious examples of collapse of governance due to non-convening of Dorbar Hima.
Further in matters of trade, Kharshiing said the Dorbar Shnong in their own wisdom continue to issue NOC due to the absence of a Dorbar Hima policy.
According to him, Dorbar Hima Mylliem should have initiated discussions as to how many localities will be allowed to become commercial and which localities will be strictly residential or where will we have sports grounds.
Again in the absence of Dorbar Hima Mylliem which is the Apex decision making body comprising of the people (u khun u hajar) the entire Shillong city is becoming a “iew duh”.
“If KHADC and State Government do not wake up many important towns and junctions such as Mawlai-Mawiong, Nongstoin, Kynshi, Lad-Nongkrem, Smit, Mylliem Bah, Lai Mer, Rynjah, Lad Pohkseh, Nongthymmai, Madanryting, Sohiong, Mairang, Mawngap, Mawkyrwat, Patharkhmah, Mawhati, Bhoirymbong, Mawryngkneng, Jowai, Khliehriat, Lad Rymbai and Dawki, will all turn into ‘iewduh and khyndai lad’,” he said.
“We expect both the elected MDCs and MLAs and representatives of Hima Mylliem to jointly discuss how to stop the mushrooming and opening of commercial trade establishments all over the place”, he said.