Meghalaya Guv grants assent to 6 Bills passed by KHADC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 24, 2024

Meghalaya governor CH Vijayashankar has granted assent to six Bills passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

Informing this on Thursday, KHADC chief Pyniaid Sing Syiem said, “Six of the seven pending Bills, have been cleared and assented (by the Governor).”

These include: the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the KHAD (Nomination and Election of the Lyngdoh, Myntri, Lyngdoh Raid and Sordar Shnong and Administration of Sohiong Lyngdohship, 2023, the KHAD (Regulation and Administration of Land) Rules, 2023, the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District Fishery (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the KHAD (Trading by Non-Tribals) (Amendment) Rules, 2023.

Syiem said that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is very important as it seeks to recognize the functioning of women and youth organizations within a village dorbar.

According to him, the Bill will also help address the issue of influx by ensuring that people from inside and outside the state have to register themselves with the dorbar shnong if they come to stay as tenants within its jurisdiction.

“The principal Act is the Elaka Administration 1991. However, we as EC and council as a whole feel that it is high time to bring amendment in this Bill because if we see the day-to-day functioning and administration of dorbar shnong, we need to include or recognize even the functioning of the seng samla or seng longkmie/kynthei, which before they are not included in this principal act 1991. We feel it is high time from now on even participation from women group or seng kynthei or seng samla, should be incorporated in this amendment and this will play a very major and important role in the day-to-day functioning of the dorbar because these groups will help in the administration of the dorbar shnong,” Syiem said.

“If we take for example, the issue of influx, where people from around the state or outside the state if they come to the jurisdiction of the KHADC or any particular village or locality, they can stay there, rent a house or a place without informing the local authorities but with this Act,w hich will now come in place it will have restriction that any outsider or any resident from outside the state, who wish to come to stay in Shillong for any purpose, they have to go through registration with the local authorities,” he added.

Further, the KHADC chief said that the Bill, which has become an Act, will also help address the issue of drug peddlers and drug trafficking, which is on the rise in Meghalaya. “This I feel it would help restrict and would protect our youth from engaging in these habits,” he added.

Asked if the Act will not clash with the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), which also mandated the need for tenants to register with the dorbar shnong, Syiem however said, “I will not judge on that but from the Khasi Hills we have done our part. Since the administration of village dorbar is under the district council, we are doing our part and maybe the state will do its own part. Let’s see if these two institutions will help the community.”

“The administration of elaka Act, 2023 clearly says that anyone coming to the village or locality should register themselves. It may be a Khasi from another district, they still have to register as tenants. Maybe a non-Khasi, they have to register. This will help in maintaining a day-to-day register like who comes and goes from the locality. It will also help the district administration or police if they want any record in the future,” he added further.