SHILLONG: A family’s ownership to land has come under question after it decided to bury its dead on the land despite objection by “agents of Syiem of Mylliem”.
The problem started when family members of 70-year-old Ktri Kharsahnoh of Rilong Village, under Raid Nongkharai, Mylliem Syiemship in Ri Bhoi decided to bury him on their land after he expired on September 28.
The family members informed Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) that despite objection from the agents of Syiem of Mylliem they went ahead with the burial on their land.
However, following a complaint, the Ri Bhoi Police has summoned the family members at Umsning police station on Monday to provide documents to prove the ownership of the land.
“Kharsahnoh had been staying in Rilong for decades on the Raid land given for use by him and his family members. There are also reports that other families which have been staying in this village for years together, were, about a year ago, asked to register with the Syiem’s office at a cost of Rs 50,000 following which they will be provided with documents. This is harsh on the poor farmers and goes against the custom of land holding of the Khasis which says that all can stay and cultivate community land,” the CSWO said in a statement issued here on Sunday.
“Such decisions take away the sustenance of the poor who survive on these lands and are against the tenets of a civilized society. The Syiem’s office should make it more feasible for the Ri Raid land dwellers as it was the duty of the Syiem to serve his people and preserve the customs and traditions, where the poor would not be ousted from the land meant for the Khasi community,” the CSWO added.
The organization also pointed out that “on July 2, 1973, the Governor of Meghalaya appointed a Land Reforms Commission for Khasi Hills and according to the report submitted by the Commission, a Khasi shall have inheritable and transferable rights of Ri Raid lands on which he had made permanent improvements, though this would again revert to the Raid when not actually occupied or put to use within 3 years.”
