By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 18: The KHADC representatives are likely to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the coming days to push for their demands on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The KHADC on Thursday held an emergent meeting in anticipation of the BJP-led NDA government tabling the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to amend provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule, during the monsoon session of Parliament.
“We are planning to meet the MHA officials and if possible, Home Minister Amit Shah to put forth our points,” the KHADC’s Deputy Chief Executive Member, PN Syiem told reporters after the meeting.
He said the council would like to impress upon the MHA that the term ‘village council’ should be replaced by ‘village dorbar’ for Meghalaya in the 125th Amendment. A similar request would be made to insert ‘town committee’ or ‘town dorbar’ in the Amendment, he added. “We do not want the words ‘municipal council’ to be included in the Amendment,” Syiem said.
He also said the KHADC wants the Rangbah Shnongs (traditional heads) to be elected by the Himas or Elakas according to the rules of the district council.
Syiem said the State Election Commission would conduct the election of the Rangbah Shnongs.
He asserted that the term “unrepresented tribes” should be eliminated. “It should only be specified that a certain number of people should be nominated members of the district councils,” he said.
On the proposal to increase the number of seats, he said there should be 35 elected members and up to four nominated ones.
The KHADC presently has 29 elected members and one nominated member.
According to the Deputy CEM, the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the state do not receive funds regularly from the Centre since these institutions do not fall under Article 280, which is for municipal bodies and panchayats.
“Presently, we are receiving funds only through the Ministry of Panchayat as there are no provisions in the Constitution to fund the ADCs,” he said.
He, however, said the funding for the district councils would be through Article 280 according to the Amendment Bill but obstacles such as the use of ‘village council’ should be removed so that the system of local governance in the state is not affected.
Syiem said it is important for the ADCs and the state government to be on the same page regarding the proposed amendment so that the MHA is not confused by its opinions.