By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 30: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) has been without a chairperson since Phidalia Toi resigned in June.
The delay in the appointment of the new chairperson has affected the overall functioning of the commission, sources in the commission said.
The sources told The Shillong Times on Monday that the MSCW has not been able to finalise any programme without anyone at the helm.
They said it is difficult for the vice-chairperson to take up the responsibility of the chairperson since she is based in the Garo Hills region and is preoccupied with engagements there.
In the absence of a chairperson, Meghalaya has to be represented by a member for any meeting of the National Commission for Women, which has shown the state in a poor light.
“The delay in the appointment of the chairperson only reflects that the state government is not giving due importance to the commission. In other states, the appointment of a chairperson happens within two weeks,” a source said.
The sources also observed that the new chairperson will only have about a year to remain in office since the term of the present body will end in December 2024.
Earlier, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the state government would appoint only the chairperson of the MSCW and not other members as they will be allowed to complete their tenure.
He said that the search committee had suggested the names of four persons and the new chairperson would be appointed soon after a meeting with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.