Conrad busy, women’s commission in limbo

Shillong, Sep 5: The constitution of the new body of Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) continues to hang fire as Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma has not been able to give time to finalise the names of the candidates.
Official sources said the Search and Select Committee (SSC) has recommended around 10 names to the government for appointment to the posts of chairperson and members.
Commissioner and Secretary of Social Welfare department, MN Nampui, who is also the SSC chairman, has already cleared the file. It is now lying with Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla.
The sources said Shylla is waiting for the CM to convene a meeting to finalise the names of the candidates.
“The decision on the formation of the new body continues to be delayed due to the unavailability of the CM. The government is keen on constituting it since the term of the previous body had expired in October last year,” the sources said.
Earlier, the Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment had questioned the delay.
It had written to the office of MSCW to know the status and summoned the Principal Secretary of Social Welfare Department to seek a clarification on the delay.
Stating that the meeting will be convened as soon as the CM is available, Shylla said the committee will examine the list of candidates proposed by the SSC.
The Thma U Rangli-Juki had earlier stated that the delay has greatly affected women, who have been seeking redressal of grievances on issues pertaining to violence, abandonment, maintenance, denial of constitutional rights etc., and for whom the Commission should have been readily accessible.