From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, April 13: The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, mandating 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, will significantly benefit Meghalaya, where female political representation remains below the national average despite its matrilineal social structure, said former National Commission for Women (NCW) member Delina Khongdup.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Khongdup described the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act as a landmark legislation for the country. She noted that its significance in Meghalaya is particularly nuanced due to the state’s unique social fabric and the persistent under-representation of women in the State Assembly, Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), and traditional village institutions.
“Meghalaya is famous for its matrilineal society, yet this has rarely translated into political power for women—a paradox this Act seeks to resolve,” Khongdup said. At present, female representation in Parliament stands at approximately 13.6%. In Meghalaya’s 60-member Assembly and 30-member ADCs, female participation remains in the single digits, far below the 33% threshold.
Khongdup addressed a common misconception that Meghalaya’s matrilineal system is matriarchal. While women are the custodians of ancestral property, political decision-making in traditional institutions like the Dorbar Shnong has historically excluded them from leadership roles. “This Adhiniyam is significant because it provides a legal mandate to bridge this gap, ensuring women who are custodians of property also become custodians of policy,” she said.
Historically, the number of women in the Meghalaya Assembly has hovered between one and four members. In 2018, only 5.08% of elected representatives were women. Khongdup believes the reservation will ensure a “critical mass” of female leaders who can prioritize state-specific issues such as maternal health, high cancer rates, and the challenges faced by single mothers and rural farmers.
Regarding concerns that the Act might conflict with the Sixth Schedule and traditional tribal laws, Khongdup clarified that the mandates operate in different spheres. “The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam applies specifically to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies—modern democratic bodies governed by the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule protects the authority of the ADCs and traditional institutions like the Syiemships and Dorbar Shnong,” she explained.
She emphasised that while the 33% reservation does not currently mandate changes to the internal composition of village councils or ADCs, tradition should not be used to deny women’s political participation. “Our customs are living laws that evolve. Just as inheritance rights are protected by custom, the right to represent the community in the Assembly is a natural progression of those rights,” she added.
Khongdup argued that the Act is complementary to traditional institutions, allowing Meghalaya to maintain its tribal identity while ensuring women’s roles are reflected in the law-making process. “This Act will bring harmony between tradition and modernity. It ensures that the high social status women enjoy at home is finally translated into legislative power,” she said.
