The mega gathering of clans organised by the KHADC on January 18 is laudable. However, all three ADCs need to take stock of the real issues facing people in the rural hinterlands of the state. It is in rural Meghalaya that poverty thrives; landlessness is growing exponentially and there is environmental degradation on a massive scale. Mining and quarrying are the two activities that threaten to turn the water sources of Meghalaya dry. Already 749 water sources are in a critical state. How can those be rejuvenated unless there are massive eco-restoration projects across the state. The ADCS need to come to grips with such issues and work in tandem with the State Forest & Environment Department to take action. The ADCs have not had serious brainstorming on how to make the local Dorbar Shnong true managers of local governance complete with an accountability framework and to demonstrate to them that tradition cannot be an excuse to debar women from being important office bearers of the Dorbar and even to occupy the seat of the Rangbah Shnong.
The Dorbar Shnong are still run in an arbitrary manner with each shnong following its own sets of rules of governance. Despite the fact that building by-laws beyond the Municipal areas are now the mandate of the Councils, ground level implementation of those building bye-laws leave much to be desired. The Dorbar Shnong of respective areas need to ensure that those who build houses follow the rules in letter and spirit. The practice of building houses and institutions, including churches right on the river continues, when rules clearly lay down that construction has to be at least 4 -6 feet away from rivers and roads. Despite the blatant violation of building rules no punitive action is taken on the law breakers. The State Pollution Control Board is a toothless body and this only adds to the problem of rivers becoming garbage dumps and septic tanks without any of the institutions of governance from the Dorbar Shnong, the District Councils and the State Government being able to rein in the violators. At this rate Meghalaya will find itself vulnerable to weather conditions with the onslaught of climate change already changing our weather patterns drastically.
The need of the hour for the KHADC is to get the Village Administration Bill passed by the Governor. It has been kept in cold storage since 2014. It is learnt that the Bill was sent to the Union Home Ministry and certain queries were raised by the Ministry which went unanswered till date. Hence the Bill is lying dormant. Meanwhile every Dorbar Shnong is functioning as it pleases. This is especially evident in the sale and purchase of land where each shnong arbitrarily charges a certain percentage from the buyer and seller of land. This is especially the case with Ri Bhoi where most townspeople have now bought large tracts of land for commercial cultivation. The Dorbar Shnong has to be regulated and to follow a set of guidelines that embody the spirit of the Constitution. This is imperative and the present Governor needs to take a hard look at the Village Administration Bill lying in his office.
