Women in Dorbar Shnong

It is encouraging to note that at long last the Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei headed by some of the most empowered women of Meghalaya has made public their demand for representation in the executive committee of the Dorbar Shnong. This has been a long-standing topic of debate in matrilineal Meghalaya. It is also a contentious topic because visitors from other states of this country and foreign scholars who visit Meghalaya have never ceased to wonder why there are so few women legislators in the state assembly – not more than five at any point of time. It is only when they are told that women are not allowed by ‘tradition’ to stand for office at the lowest rung of the political system – the grassroots institution – the Dorbar Shnong, that they understand why aiming for a place in the legislature is a huge challenge. Women are already made to feel they are jostling for space with men when they seek election to the Dorbar Shnong. Some women have even argued publicly that the Dorbar Shnong is the last male bastion and since Khasi women already enjoy the right of lineage through their clan then politics should be left to the men. Is it any wonder then that Meghalaya fares very poorly in women and child health and nutrition and why the total fertility ratio is so high; and why anemia is claiming the lives of young mothers during childbirth? It takes a woman to understand the plight of other women. The present Health Minister – a woman – has been able to look at maternal and child health more closely because she knows what she is talking about.That the advisor of the Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei, a former principal of a college and a progressive woman should stop short of claiming the right of women to contest for the post of Rangbah Shnong and to be contented only with women being executive members of the Dorbar Shnong is like taking one step forward and  two steps backwards. What is wrong if capable women hold the office of the Rangbah Shnong? When will women come into their own? What sort of example is being given to young, progressive, ambitious women who are capable of providing good governance when a leading women’s organisation says that it is unwilling to displace men as Rangbah Shnong? Where is the much-talked about gender equity? Should gender equity not mean that women and men compete on an equal footing and allow the public to decide whether they prefer to elect a man to a woman? A beginning has to be made somewhere. Women have to come out of the shadows and stop playing second fiddle to men. This is the 21^st century. If Khasi society does not change its captive mindset now, then when is a good time? A debate on this matter is urgently called for!