By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 21: The KHADC Executive Committee will table a bill to amend the Administration of Elaka Act of 1991 to empower the Dorbar Shnongs to constitute committees to monitor unlawful activities within their jurisdiction.
KHADC Deputy CEM, PN Syiem said on Thursday that the Executive Committee will table the Administration of Elaka (Amendment) Bill 2023 to amend the existing Act during the two-day special session starting on Friday.
Syiem stated that once of the amendment bill get the Governor’s assent, the Dorbar Shnongs will have the authority to constitute social vigilant committees (SVCs) which will maintain proper records of the people residing in the locality or villages and this would speed up the process of identifying people of dubious antecedents.
Syiem said this was necessary to keep a tab on people coming from outside and residing within the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
The Seng Samla, Seng Longkmie and the committee will closely work with the Police department when it comes to dealing with the problem of drugs and other illegal activities.
Talking about the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration) Bill, 2022, Syiem said the state government resent the bill to the council due to its conflict with the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997.
He said that the government sought clarification from the KHADC since the word “clan” is mentioned in both the clan bill and the lineage act.
He said the executive committee will re-introduce the clan bill during the two-day special session to allow the members to deliberate on it. The bill was first introduced on November 20, 2018 and passed two days later. The bill was forwarded to the Governor for his assent but he returned it to the council on May 9, 2019 for reconsideration.
Syiem also recalled that the previous EC had constituted a committee headed by senior member, Bindo M Lanong to rectify the bill and the council had unanimously passed the clan bill in July last year after incorporating the suggestion recommended by the Lanong-led committee.
The bill was send to the Governor through the District Council Affairs department for approval. But recently it was returned to the council.
This is the third time that the state government had returned the clan bill.