MSCW gets new chairperson

SHILLONG, June 19: The state government has appointed former chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR), Iamonlang M Syiem as the new chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW).
The post was lying vacant for nearly a year following the resignation of Phidalia Toi on June 24 last year. The government cleared Syiem’s name during a meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday.
Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh said the delay in the announcement of the name of the MSCW chairperson was due to the imposition of Lok Sabha election model code of conduct. The name had to be cleared at the level of the Cabinet and it did so in its first meeting after the polls.
According to Lyngdoh, the government also decided to increase the age limit for the appointment of the chairperson from 65 years to 70 years. The government took the views of the Law department on the matter.
Syiem, who has a vast experience in the field of protection of child and human rights, was chosen as the MSCW chairperson from among seven applicants shortlisted by the government.
Her tenure as the MSCPCR chairperson expired on March 1 this year on her attainment of the age of 65 years. She will have about six months in office in the MSCW as the term of the present body will end in December.