Panel Ignoring Proposals of Stakeholders: Congress MDCs

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: Congress Members of District Council (MDC) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Saturday has expressed concern over the ‘failure’ of the committee set up by the State Government on the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule, to stick to the suggestions of the stakeholders.

Congress MDC from Mawhati, Charles Margnar said they have come to know that one of the proposals given by the stakeholders, including NGOs, relating to the number of seats in the KHADC, has been changed by the committee.

The Congress is also ‘suspicious that’ the State Government committee might have changed other controversial clauses like the word “unrepresented tribe”.

It may be mentioned that many stakeholders of the State are against the inclusion of the word “unrepresented tribe” in the amendment bill.

“We had proposed to increase the number of seats from the current 30 to 31, which will include two women members who would be nominated. However, the report submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee increases the number of seats to 40,” Margnar said.

The Opposition Congress is also angry that they were not informed of the meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which was held on October 30.

The MHA had convened the meeting to seek the views of the various autonomous district councils and other stakeholders of the region with regards to the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule.

Meanwhile, the Congress also demanded a special session of the KHADC to discuss on the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule especially in wake of the changes made in the report submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee without the knowledge of the stakeholders.

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