SHILLONG, June 15: Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday defended his move to depose Phidalia Toi as the chairperson of the of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), saying it was not based on hearsay but taken after going through relevant files.
His statement came a day after the MSCW expressed shock over the “unceremonious” removal of Phidalia Toi as the chairperson.
“The media have often asked why people from the political fraternity are picked (for certain posts). So, we thought of appointing a non-political person who can deliver and understand the issues of women,” he said.
Stating that he would rather be right than popular, the minister said: “I studied the provisions of the Women Commission Act. I have gone through the noting in the files and I know what I am doing.”
He said the government would appoint a search committee to find the new MSCW chairperson. “The commission has to have the most competent members to deliver,” he added.
Lyngdoh also said the Cabinet would be informed about the removal of Toi and the reasons would be cited.
The MSCW had said the announcement of Toi’s removal by the minister was in contravention of the tenets of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act, 2005.
“The minister concerned had received inaccurate information that the chairperson had been absent from three out of four meetings of the Commission. As a matter of fact, all the board meetings of the MSCW have been chaired by the chairperson (Toi),” the MSCW said in a statement.
It further stated that the relevant minutes of the meetings and all records thereof are documented and filed in the office of the commission.
MSCW said as per Chapter II Section 4 (3) of the Act “….no person shall be removed under this sub-section until that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter”.
“…She was never given notice of the charges made against her or an opportunity to be heard, as mandated by the law. It is incumbent of the minister to check the relevant records available at the office of the commission before stating incorrect facts publicly questioning the credibility of the chairperson and the office,” the commission stated.
The MSCW pointed out that the office of the commission, being an important constitutional body to look into matters of women’s rights, as stated by the minister himself, is shocked that women are being removed from official duties in a whimsical manner with no regard to the rule of law.
According to the commission, if this is the plight of a woman chairperson then it cannot imagine what the hardworking women workforce of the state must be facing on a daily basis.
