A Short Biography of Mr HS Shylla
Twice I have won the MLA Election (1988-1993 and 1993-1998) from the Nongkrem Assembly Constituency; three times I have won the MDC elections from the same Constituency (1984-1989; 2004-2009; 2016-2019). Before entering in to politics I had served in four offices of the State Government and of the Central Government. I have been the Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, a Cabinet Minister, the Chairman of the Meghalaya State Law Commission, the Co-Chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board, the Chief Executive Member of the KHADC besides other positions and appointments. Therefore, the service that I have been able to achieve through these appointments has broaden my mind widely and now at the age of 64 years I feel that I have arrived at the ripe age to give the best service to you the public of the 22-Nongkrem Assembly Constituency firstly and to the state of Meghalaya as a whole. It delights me to tell you that even though I have held the above offices there have never been any black remark against me whether in connection to the abuse of my authority or to corruption.
I returned to stand for election in the year 2016 because of the admission of the elders of the Nongkrem Constituency that there was great fear in the hearts and minds of the public following the introduction of one strange law after the law that threatened to overwhelm them. To authenticate the presence of such a fear in the minds of the people that I had served for many years, I requested the elders to call for a public rally at the Madan Smit (Field in Smit); certainly, on the 22.2.2016, at the public rally held in Smit it was found to be true that people earnestly desired that I once again extend my services to them and truly they gave me a very honourable victory in the mid-term poll election to the KHADC by 6097 votes and within a year all the strange laws began to disappear from the constituency and the Village Committees were able to once again repair the lanes and the by-lanes, supply of drinking water, the village hall and other works which for the last ten years they have not been able to do as Village Committees.
Security of the people returned once again after the Marriage Registration Act that required people to register their marriages was removed through the amendment made to the Act in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. On the matter of the encroachment of the MUDA, something very heinous was found instead about it, that the MUDA did not just encroached unlawfully but because of the removal in 2004 by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly of clause 1 (2) of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act 1973 which prohibits the entrance of the MUDA into District Council Areas. This was done during the tenure of Mr Lambor Malngiang as the MLA of the Nongkrem Constituency (2003 – 2008). He had a hand in the agreement of the Cabinet Meeting as the Minister and also the agreement of the Legislature, I leave it up to him to clarify further on this matter. Mr. Ardent M. Basaiawmoit MLA from the year 2008 – 2018 did not even once place a request for the revival of the Clause 1(2) of the Act of 1973; therefore, his protest against the encroachment of MUDA in public arenas is only a drama to deceive the public. Since there is only one way to re-introduce the Clause 1(2) of the Act of 1973 and that is to bring about another amendment in the Assembly that receives the support of the majority of the MLA.
With regards to this we have hope that the National People’s Party will be able to get more MLAs since it is very strong in the whole of Garo Hills and in the Jaintia Hills. It will also be able to garner not less than eight MLAs from the Khasi Hills which has 29 constituencies. The NPP has agreed to re-introduce Clause 1(2) of the Act 1973 when it comes to power. In this manner from our end we have already prepared a very clear path to completely remove MUDA from all District Council Areas when we the NPP come to power. Further, in the same manner, we will get to give our best service in all aspects of the society in Nongkrem Constituency. My seniority, my experience, my sincerity, my simplicity, my hard work will repay your precious vote otherwise the people who have given their support to me from the year 1983 would not have remained faithful to me even to this day even after many years of my having taken a break from politics; the love and trust of the people for me and in me continues to be passed down to their children; I do not have wealth and riches but the above qualities of mine are my riches as a servant of the people.
The Umpohliew Project which is next to Lad Smit, Umphyrnai, which has implemented the Incubator Lane which could produce up to 15000 chicks in 21 days is the beginning, it is the first but an important step in Meghalaya since from now onwards when the people have shown their approval through their votes on the 27.2.2018 this policy will be expanded further so that ten thousands of chicks will be produced every month as the first step towards eradicating poverty firstly from Nongkrem Constituency and also from the entire state as it has happened in Karnataka a few years ago. Go and see with your own eyes the functioning of the Umpohliew Project and you will see and hear in detail how it works because it is going to be yours as the inhabitants of the Nongkrem Constituency from generation to generation along with its growth and development that will improve and enhance your income.
(As translated from his Khasi introduction to himself written as an appeal when he contested the last election)
By Jacob Shylla, Nephew | Asstt. Professor English | St. Anthony’s College
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