SHILLONG, June 20: Newly-elected Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Pyniaid Sing Syiem on Tuesday said the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule, ensuring the safety and security of people residing in villages along the interstate border and following up on various pending bills will be the priorities of his executive committee (EC).
Syiem, an MDC of the National People’s Party (NPP), was elected the CEM unopposed. His election to the post was announced by KHADC Chairman, Lamphrang Blah after the Opposition United Democratic Alliance decided not to contest.
Syiem, the former chairman of KHADC, will lead the new executive committee of the Khasi Hills Democratic Front (KHDF), an alliance set up by 12 NPP and six Congress members.
The previous EC, led by Titosstarwell Chyne, lost the no-confidence motion moved by NPP’s Bajop Pyngrope on Monday.
Earlier, while congratulating Syiem on his election as the CEM, Chyne expressed surprise that he (Syiem) was wearing a black dress.
“I was thinking that he would be in a white dress since it is the day of celebration. Maybe, black is his favourite colour,” Chyne said and assured his full support and advice to the new EC.
It wants to ensure the safety of border residents by following up on the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
In his maiden address in the House as the CEM, Syiem said they will try to find out the status of the amended provisions of the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment Bill, 2019.
“We understand that the bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by Congress MP, Anand Sharma. We had submitted our suggestions and views to the Standing Committee during its visit to the state,” he said.
He said they would like to find out the communications between the Centre and the state government as regards the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to him, they would like to know if the Council can still submit its views and suggestions to further improve the bill.
“There are several organisations which wanted to submit their views as they are also concerned about this matter. We would like to see that the provisions, which will be incorporated in the proposed amendment, benefit us,” Syiem said, adding every member of the House is equally concerned about the matter.
He said the present EC will take all possible steps to ensure the safety and security of the border residents.
He said he had called up the CEM of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang before coming to the session and told him that he should not disturb the peaceful atmosphere among villagers residing under Raid Nongtung.
He further said Congress MDC, Charles Marngar suggested they will try to arrange a visit to these areas to understand their problems.
Syiem expressed disappointment that many of the bills passed by the Council in the past many years have been kept in the corner at the Secretariat as no one is bothered about them.
“I am happy that the MDA government formed an expert committee to study the bills passed by the Council. We have seen many bills getting the assent of the Governor after the expert committee was constituted. I am happy that a new expert committee was notified earlier this month after the term of the previous committee had expired,” Syiem said.
He said one of the bills which the new EC will follow up is the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill, 2022.
Admitting that it will not be an easy task to fulfill the long-pending demand for the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, he said the issue is being pursued also by the state government and different organisations. The Khasi Authors’ Society is also doing its bit, he said.
“We need a strong and united voice so that the Centre takes cognisance of our demand,” Syiem said.
Further, he said over 800 staff of the Council are worried if they will get their salaries regularly given its present financial position.
“We don’t want to face a situation like that of JHADC and GHADC whose staff have not been getting their salaries for months together,” Syiem said.
According to him, the KHADC is paying the salaries of the staff from its own revenue and the share of royalties it receives from the government on the major minerals.
He assured that he will take all possible steps to ensure the improvement of the Council’s financial position. Further, he assured that the new EC will try its best to bring about transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Council.
He said the Council has been empowered so it can protect the culture and traditional practices of the Khasi indigenous tribe.
“We also need to ensure that the various traditional institutions are protected,” he added.
