CCTV surveillance to ensure safety in Iewduh

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 14: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today decided to put Iewduh – the oldest traditional market in the region – under CCTV surveillance to ensure the safety and security of traders and the general public.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee on Safety, Security and Cleanliness of Iewduh was convened by the KHADC chief executive member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem and attended by EM in-charge market Grace Mary Kharpuri, EM in-charge development Carnes Sohshang and representatives of various localities – Mawkhar, Umsohsun, Mission Compound, Wahthapbru, Qualapatty, Riatsamthiah and Wahingdoh – besides officials from the district administration.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Syiem informed that the Committee has decided to seek funds from the Fifteen Finance Commission to construct and renovate public toilets, drainage systems and install new water pipes at Iewduh.

“The committee has also decided to install CCTV cameras and solar lightings in and around Iewduh to monitor any untoward incidents and to instil a sense of safety and security among the traders and market goers,” he said.

The CEM also said that the committee has also decided to conduct an inspection in Iewduh for the installation of a check gate to monitor the entry and exit of people and to prevent theft and anti-social elements, especially during nighttime.

Meanwhile, the committee has also decided to ban overnight staying in Iewduh and also to take action against shop owners who converted their shops into residence complexes and against those involved in gambling.

KHADC, KAAC to work together for peace

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 14: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) today unanimously decided to work together to maintain peace and harmony in areas under the disputed Block II.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting held between the KHADC chief Pyniaid Sing Syiem and KAAC chief Dr Tuliram Ronghang in the presence of Karbi Anglong MP Horen Singh Bey.

The meeting was also attended by the executive members from both the autonomous councils.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Syiem said that the KHADC and KAAC have decided to work together to maintain peace and harmony among the two communities residing on the border.

Syiem has also expressed concern over the alleged harassment against Khasi-Pnar people residing in the Block II areas.

“Since yesterday, I have already appraised the KAAC chief on the matter and requested his intervention to ensure Khasi-Pnar people do not face any kind of harassment especially when the two State governments are in the process of settling the boundary dispute,” he said.

On the demand to retransfer the Block II areas to Meghalaya, the KHADC chief, however, said that discussion by the two State governments on the matter is on.

“Therefore, the two district councils have decided to work together. We will listen to the voice of the people from both communities before giving our suggestion to the regional committees of both States,” he said.

Meanwhile, Syiem informed that both district councils have decided to work together to preserve and promote the rich culture and heritage of the two communities.

‘Amendments needed to ensure equitable distribution of property’

Four organizations – HNYF, KSU, FKJGP and Maitshaphrang have urged the citizens to extend their full support the need to introduce some amendments to the Meghalaya Succession to Self Acquired Property (Khasi and Jaintia Special Provision) Act, 1986 to ensure equitable distribution of property.

“With this vision in mind we appeal to the Hynniewtrep people for their views and opinion, their cooperation and support in bringing about a legislation that is progressive and an asset to all the children of the family and their generations and with the talents and the resources available in our State, let us make our Meghalaya an economic powerhouse, the pride of India,” Convener of the Maitshaphrang Michael Syiem said in a statement issued today.

The matter was also discussed during a meeting organized by the four organizations with representatives of the seng Kur (Clan) on April 15.

Syiem said the whole world revolves around the economy and the stronger the economy the stronger the country, citing examples like the USA, Germany, China, and quite a few more. Even Israel which is not much bigger in size than Meghalaya and where 65% of its territory is desert, has a very strong economy and attempts by its far bigger neighbouring countries to ‘bring it to heel’ time and again had been countered successfully by Israel. Israel is now a major player not only in the Middle East.

He said if Meghalaya is to become a strong and a progressive State and able to protect its’ borders besides taking up other development activities, it has to develop its economy and the involvement and contribution of its indigenous population to strengthen this economic development is vital.

In the present situation where government jobs have reached a near saturation point, the only viable alternative is for the young people of the state to go into economic activity in a big way and for those who have the capital, it will have a multiplier effect creating more employment opportunities.

For this to happen, economic empowerment of all the children in the family of the Hynniewtrep community is a must to allow them to give collateral for availing of loans from the financial institution.

“Therefore, the need to amend the above 1986 Act to include the word ‘Equitable’ meaning ‘Fair and Just’ (not ‘Equal’ as some people mistakenly interpreted), and the word ‘Ancestral’ in the principal Act which will then read as, the Meghalaya Equitable Succession to Ancestral and Self Acquired Property (Khasi and Jaintia Special Provision) Act. Proposal to include the word ‘Gift’ was also made,” Syiem said.

“The word ‘Equitable’ gives the parents the flexibility to ‘Will’ out their property to their children, sons and daughters, to whom and how much, according to their wisdom. If in certain cases, the parents in their wisdom feel that the youngest daughter deserves the bulk or the entire share, this Law will allow them to do so by Will. In a family where there are no daughters only sons, the Will which gives the sons the right to the family property will prevent the Kur (Clan) from snatching away the property from them when their parents expire, which is usually the case because of the absence of this law,” he added.

The Maitshaphrang leader further recalled that in the year 1982 a group of ex KSU members, discussed the need for a law to give all children of the family a share of the family property.

“Accordingly together with some concerned friends and members of the Tribal United Front led by (L) Wifel Slong we drafted a Bill which was to be presented to the KHADC. This Bill was however taken up and passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and received the assent of the Governor on May 23, 1986 as The Meghalaya Succession to Self Acquired Property (Khasi and Jaintia Special Provision) Act, 1986 and published in the Gazette of Meghalaya, Extraordinary, dated June 3, 1986,” he said.

“However in this principal Act of 1986 it mentions only the Self Acquired Property of the parents that can be Willed out to their children, sons and daughters. But this Self Acquired property of the parents, in the next generation becomes Ancestral property to the children and it reverts back to the youngest daughter as per our present system of inheritance,” Syiem said while adding that “So therefore, we are demanding that only this part of the Ancestral property that is inherited from their parents and grandparents be allowed to be Willed out to anyone of their children and successive generations and not the Ancestral property that belongs to the Kur (Clan).”

Syiem said after more than 30 years of campaigning we are glad that more and more families are equitably distributing their properties to all their children, sons and daughters. But it must be emphasized here that there must be a law in place to strengthen and legalise this distribution of inheritance by way of a Will or by a Gift.

“We are facing challenging times from challenging forces and unless we economically empower all our children, sons and daughters whenever possible, our matrilineal society will not be able to withstand the onslaught facing us today and the years to come. The problem of influx which is mainly driven by availability of economic opportunities, will be checked to a great extent when more and more indigenous people of the state enter into economic activity, encouraged by this new legislation,” he added.

Councils still against inclusions in proposed amendment to 6th Schedule

The three autonomous district councils – KHADC, JHADC and GHADC – has reiterated their strong opposition against the inclusion of ‘unrepresented tribe’ and ‘village council’ in the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

After a joint meeting held here, KHADC chief Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters that the matter was discussed by the three ADCs after the Centre had yet again sought for their views.

“We are totally against implementation of the unrepresented tribe and the state government is also in the same line with us. Regarding the village council issue, we had maintained that instead of this, we propose village development council,” Chyne said.

He said that the two issues have been pending as they needed elaborate discussion.

“We have discussed this matter seriously. We have highlighted to our friends from Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills that in KHADC, we have passed the Village Development Council Bill and we would also like to that even in these two ADCs, they also should pass this Bill so that implementation of village council will not be applicable as we have our own traditional institutions,” Chyne said while adding that “because according to this proposed amendment, the implementation of the village council in the state will dilute the powers and functions of our traditional institutions. We will not like to see our traditional institutions will go away, we would like to see them to remain with our traditional practice that is why we have decided this matter will be discussed in the respective councils soon.”

When asked, the KHADC chief said, “These are the two issues which the central government has written to the state government to look into these issue.”

“Once we clear these two issues, then I think the central government also will be willing to pass this amendment at the earliest possible. Once we give green signal from here I think the Centre will take a call,” he added.

Regarding the number of seats, Chyne said, “We (three ADCs) have already agreed that it should not exceed 40 seats. That we have agreed.”

Further, the three autonomous district councils have also unanimously oppose the implementation of the Swamitva Scheme by the Centre.

“We totally oppose the implementation of this scheme in the state as our land tenure system is totally different from other states in the country. We have our traditional practices, we have our own land holding system in our state so that is why implementation of this scheme in the state is not acceptable,” Chyne said.

Meanwhile, the KHADC chief also informed that they demanded the state government to transfer back the subject relating to issuing of Scheduled Tribe certificate to all the three ADCs as it was done in the past.

“Issuing of PRCs by respective DCs was also discussed. The district administration should first get the confirmation from the ADCs before issuing any PRCs,” he stated.

ADCs want details of their share from royalty, taxes

The three autonomous district councils have asked the state government to provide the actual calculation of their respective shares from royalty on minor and major minerals and from the motor vehicle taxes.

Informing this after a joint meeting today, KHADC chief Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters that the issue relating to the financial matters to the three ADCs including GHADC and JHADC was discussed.

“We urge the state government that we should at least get the actual calculation regarding this matter,” Chyne said.

“We used to get share from the state government like minor and major mineral share and motor vehicle tax share from the state government. But unfortunately all these years, we never get a correct calculation how much our share used to be, we always got lump sum amount of share,” he added.

Urging the state government to also get more funds for the 3 ADCs, Chyne said, “We urge the state government to get more funds for all the three ADCs especially like the plan scheme, other financial assistance.”

Further, the KHADC chief said that they have also discussed about the delay in the release of the 15th Finance Commission Award from the Centre government and requested the need to release the funds in time.

“(We) urge the government to release our funds in time because delaying in the release of funds lead to delay in the implementation of the scheme. The central government use to give us pressure to submit the utilization certificates (UCs) but we cannot submit our UCs in time because we too did not get the funds in time,” he said.

According to him, the three ADCs are yet to get funds relating to Untied scheme for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 till now.

“Therefore, we would like to jointly to urge the state government to see these kinds of delay in the implementation of the schemes should not take place,” he added.

ADCs say ‘NO’ to implementation of Uniform Civil Code

The three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) have unanimously decided to jointly pass a resolution to oppose the Centre’s move to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the chief executive members (CEMs) of the three Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) – held in Shillong here today.

“We have unanimously decided that we will jointly pass a resolution that implementation of UCC in the Sixth Schedule area will be totally opposed (by us) and we also pass a resolution in our respective councils soon regarding this matter,” KHADC chief Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters after the meeting.

The UCC is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply on all citizens equally.

He said that the meeting had discussed at length the intention of the central government to introduce the UCC Bill in the country while adding that “we feel that UCC will directly had an impact on the powers and functions of the ADCs especially with our customs, our traditional practices, community as a whole.”

When asked if a special session will be convened in this regard, Chyne said hopefully a special session will be called by next month as they would like to speed up this matter.

“There are so many problems as I have said that it (UCC) will affect our traditional customs like marriage system. Once this UCC is implemented, we will have a uniform marriage system but here in our custom we have different, so religious and traditional custom will be affected. As Scheduled Tribe, we feel implementation of this UCC will not be acceptable in the state,” he said.

Further, the KHADC chief said that the state government will also have to go in the same line once a resolution is passed by the three ADCs as was done in the case of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

“…the CAA has been exempted in the Scheduled area I think the UCC should also be exempted from the Sixth Schedule. Therefore, we are demanding for exemption of the UCC from the Sixth Schedule area,” he further maintained.

AIM against gambling in melas

The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.

Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.

Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.

KHADC cracks down on illegal business in Iewduh

Chief of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Titosstarwell Chyne on Thursday directed immediate action against illegal businesses by non-tribals at Iewduh, which is one of the biggest traditional markets in the state.

This came after conducting an inspection to Iewduh market where it was found that many non-tribals are running illegal businesses by failing to obtain necessary permission including trading licenses from the Council.

Chyne was accompanied by the executive member in-charge of Trade and officials from the council’s enforcement wing and office of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem.

Speaking to reporters, Chyne expressed concern to see people from outside operating illegal businesses within the jurisdiction of the Council and said, “That is why I have asked the enforcement wing to take action against these people as they don’t have any valid documents including trading licenses.”

“We have also conducted checking on a few shops and found that they too do not have trading licenses. We will issue show cause to all of them and action to the extent of closing down their shop will be taken,” he said while announcing that regular checking against illegal traders will be conducted occasionally.

The chief executive member said he does not want to blame anyone but instead would urge everyone right from the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, his ministers and also the council’s enforcement wing to take this matter seriously.

“I also assure that the executive committee will take this matter very seriously and ensure the enforcement wing will do its job by fully implementing the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act where we cannot just allow people from outside to come and operate their illegal businesses in our land without getting trading licenses. Having said that, it does not mean that the EC wants that every non-tribal should get the trading license but the objective is to reduce it to ensure the livelihood of our people is not affected,” he added.

Chyne said, “I cannot carry a gun without a license. We have to first apply for the license then we buy a gun or I cannot drive a taxi without a permit so same with trade meaning these people from outside cannot operate their businesses without getting a trading license. Therefore it is highly illegal on their part to operate their businesses without a trading license and that is why we will ensure people who have not applied for the trading license will not get a trading license as they have violated.”

Further, the CEM informed that he had also sought a report to ensure no non-tribal will be allowed to carry out hawking business at Iewduh excluding those who already obtained proper trading licenses. “I also urge the EM trade to close down all illegal businesses in Iewduh,” he added.