Traditiol heads issued fresh 'Sad'

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Sept 15: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngaiñ N Syiem today said that the traditiol heads ought to be recognised for their contribution by giving them a chance to be represented in the Executive Committee (EC) of the district council.

Syiem was speaking at a function distributing fresh “Sad” (appointment letter) to the Rangbah Shnong of 30 Dorbar Shnongs held at Shillong Polytechnic, Mawlai today.

“We had even discussed this issue in the Executive Committee and the EC members were in favour of such a move,” the CEM informed.

The KHADC CEM also said that the district council was contemplating to legislate the Federation of Traditiol Dorbars (FTD).

According to Syiem, in the legislation the provision of an “electoral college” will be included.

“Such an electoral college will elect representatives from the various traditiol bodies to the Federation of Traditiol Dorbars,” he said.

The KHADC CEM said that the presence of representatives from the traditiol bodies would mean that the EC cannot act arbitrarily.

Earlier, Syiem said that the main objective of the creation of the FTD was to create a common platform for the traditiol institutions to iron out their differences and also take up common issues jointly.

“In the past we have seen that there was no cordial relation between the district council and the various traditiol institutions like the dorbar hima, dorbar raid, dorbar shnong,” Syiem admitted.

The CEM however hoped that with the constitution of the FTD it will be a mouthpiece of the indigenous people of the state. Syiem also questioned the authority of the state government to make laws for empowering the traditiol heads.

“How can the traditiol and customary laws be legislated in the state secretariat, since the district councils are the sole custodian to make such laws and empowered by the Sixth Scheduled,” the CEM said.

Meanwhile, around 26 Rangbah Shnongs falling under the umbrella Synjuk ki Durbar Shnong Pynthorumkhrah-Mawpat, Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Shilliang Umkhen and Rangbah Shnong of the Dorbar Shnong falling under the Mawlai Town Durbar (MTD) were given “Sad” by the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Laborious Manik Syiem.

Laborious also administered the oath of office to the Rangbah Shnongs.

The issuing of fresh “Sad” was necessitated after the KHADC recently passed the KHAD (Appointment & Succession of Chief and Headmen) Rules, 2015 in a special session.

According to the KHADC CEM, with the passing of the Rules as per the United Khasi Jaintia Autonomous District (Appointment and Succession of Chiefs & Headmen) Act, 1959 the traditiol heads in Khasi hills region will once again be eligible to exercise their powers to issue certificates.