By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 28: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is looking to come up with a provision which will make it mandatory for every Dorbar Shnong to have two women representatives in its Executive Committee (EC).
“We will define in the rules to have two women members in the EC of the Dorbar Shnongs once the KHAD (Administration of Elaka) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 becomes an Act,” the council’s Deputy CEM, Pynshngainlang N Syiem told reporters after a meeting with a delegation of the Lympung ka Seng Kynthei here on Thursday.
He said he understands that it is important to have women representatives in the Dorbar Shnongs for providing a platform to deliberate on the issues and problems relating to women.
According to him, the council is also looking to properly define since there are localities and villages which prefer to use the term “Seng Kynthei” and there are others which like to use “Seng Longkmie”.
Syiem said the council will leave it to the wisdom of the Dorbar Shnongs to decide whether or not to allow women to take part in electing the Rangbah Shnong. He also said that he has clearly mentioned to the delegation of Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei that the amendment bill is not without any flaws.
“We can further improve the bill in the third and fourth amendments,” he said.
Earlier, Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei president, Theilin Phanbuh said they are not demanding that women should contest the post of Rangbah Shnong. She said they are demanding that women should be members of the EC so as to enable them to raise the issues of women in the Dorbar.
Phanbuh said when a woman is given a chance to raise issues in the Dorbar, it will have a positive impact on the society.
She added that the Lympung has been asking the district council since 2011 to recognize women and provide a provision to enable them to be a part of the EC in their respective Dorbar Shnongs.
“We are grateful to the EC of KHADC for coming up with a Bill that will empower women to be a part of the EC of the Dorbar Shnongs and also be members in various committees to look after the issues pertaining to the interests of women in the society” Phanbuh said.