SHILLONG, April 11: Four organisations — Maitshaphrang, KSU, FKJGP and HNYF — are trying to drum support to their campaign to urge upon the state government to introduce an amendment to the Meghalaya Succession to Self Acquired Property (Khasi and Jaintia Special Provision) Act, 1986.
The Act provides special provision enabling the Khasis and the Jaintias to dispose of self-acquired property by will.
The four organisations will be holding a consultation meeting at Jaiaw Shyiap Lumpyllon Community Hall on April 15, and have invited different clans and concerned individuals including youths to deliberate over the subject.
Maitshaphrang chairman, Michael Syiem, who has been instrumental in initiating this campaign, has urged the members of the various clans to attend the meeting so that they can seek clarifications about the campaign.
“We would want the members of the various clans to hear what the four organisations have to clarify on the demands made by us for the government to bring about these amendments,” Syiem said.
He further mentioned that the existing Act only talks about the self-acquired property.
Maitshaphrang chairman stated the parents can transfer self-acquired property through a will to any of the children. “But when the children inherit the self acquired property of the parents it becomes ancestral. These ancestral properties go back to the younger daughter. So we feel that we need an amendment to include self-acquired and ancestral property both in this Act,” Syiem said.
He further said that the word “equitable” should be inserted in the Act so that the parents can equitably give their property through a will to any of the children and not necessarily women or the youngest daughter.
Syiem maintained that the word “equitable” does not mean equal, it implies fair and just. “It depends on the wisdom of the parents to give (the property) to whom and how much. But we would want the word equitable to be inserted in the Act,” he said.
Asked about the response to the campaign, Syiem said that awareness campaign has been going on for the last 20-plus years through street plays and distribution of pamphlets and publicity materials.
“Now more and more people have come forward, especially after we are able to clarify about the misunderstanding of the word equitable. We have been able to clear the hurdle for many people to come forward and support this initiative,” the Maitshaphrang chairman said.
He further clarified that the groups are not talking about the ancestral property which belongs to the clan.
“Right now we are talking about the ancestral property which comes from the personal self-acquired property of the parents which is inherited by the children and this ancestral property can be willed out to the coming generations,” Syiem said.
Once they get the public support, the groups will move the government to introduce these amendments.
HNYF president Sadon K Blah, FKJGP leader Elton Warjri and KSU assistant general secretary Eric Nongkynrih were also present during the press conference.
