Covid19 has brought with it not just health challenges but has also required administrative vigilance right down to the localities which are under the administration of the Dorbar Shnong. The role of the Dorbar Shnong in managing the affairs of those under their jurisdiction during the pandemic and since the lockout was announced on March 20 last has been commendable. True, there are issues that need to be sorted out vis-a-vis the mandate of the traditional institutions. In the absence of the Village Administration Bill (VAB) which is pending with the Government and following the strictures from the Meghalaya High Court about the traditional institutions over-stepping their mandate, the Dorbar Shnong have been operating in a vacuum. This is not desirable because these institutions are critical to grass-roots governance and they are an intrinsic part of the tribal consciousness. They actually need to be empowered with financial and other resources in the same manner that the Panchayats are, without losing their indigeneity and with the liberty to retain their traditional nomenclature.
The Dorbar Shnong have resisted past attempts at bringing in reforms in their governance structure. In the 21st century democratisation, which includes election through adult franchise and gender parity are non-negotiable factors. But the traditional institutions have been averse to this idea, wanting instead to stick to the old mode of selection by voice vote and retaining some of the undesirable ethnocentric features such as, that a male member of a particular clan only can be elected to the post of Rangbah Shnong in particular localities. This is not acceptable to the Government of India and attempts to bring in central funding have failed on this very count. Also the post of the Rangbah Shnong and his executive members is without remuneration. They all work pro-bono. Without a salary, the office bearers cannot be expected to give their full time and dedicated service to grassroots governance. Also without adequate funding local civic governance such as waste management and sanitation, maintaining water supply systems and electricity et al cannot be carried out seamlessly.
There is also a tenuous relationship between the state government and the traditional institutions since the latter are under the purview of the District Councils. But considering that the Councils have themselves been plagued by incessant power plays and Executive Councils are toppled every now and again, perhaps it is time that the traditional institutions themselves decide to align with the State Government under a new arrangement. At present the arrangement is informal and fuzzy and the Dorbar Shnong often feel used when they are needed and discarded at a convenient time. This is not a happy arrangement. After Covid19 departs it would be desirable for the Dorbar Shnong to think of a new trajectory. If their commitment is to serve the public then nothing should stand in the way of their future course of action.
