SHILLONG, March 6: Women representation in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has come down to three from four after this year’s elections, but hope continues to live for a stronger count of women legislators in the state.
Speaking after taking her oath, NPP’s Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla pointed out that more women are gradually coming forward to join state politics while hoping that more women will emerge as legislators in the years to come.
“My role will be to encourage women to come up and be the leaders of the society,” Shylla said while emphasising that apart from overall development of the constituency she wants to improve road connectivity.
It may be recalled that this NPP candidate defeated Congress giant, Vincent Pala from Sutnga-Saipung constituency.
Asked about mushrooming of illegal coke factories, Shylla said admitted that coke factories are affecting her people and assured to try her best to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, a senior woman political figure in Meghalaya, Ampareen Lyngdoh, the MLA of East Shillong, has vowed to ensure that child rights are protected even as she thanked the electorates of her constituency for picking her as their representative.
Lamenting that children have become easy victims of vices and crimes, she added that the government should ensure better facilities for women in conflict and for women in situation of domestic violence.
“Safety has become a big concern in Meghalaya and we must make every women feel safe as they walk on the streets,” Lyngdoh said.
