KHADC members meet Meghalaya CM over amendment to 6th Schedule

Shillong: Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Titosstarwell Chyne and other KHADC members on Monday met with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to seek clarity on the recent Amendment to the Sixth Schedule. 

Speaking with the media, Chyne said, “We wanted a clarity on what is the stand of the government concerning the proposal to recommend the word Village Council.”

According to the CEM, the chief minister clarified that in the amendment approved by the Cabinet the word ‘Village Council’ is also being included with the word Village Dorbar as applicable. This means that in Garo hills, they may accept the word Village Council, while in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the word Village Dorbar is applicable.

“The question of the word Village Council in Khasi and Jaintia Hills doesn’t arise,” clarified Chyne. 

The Chief Minister also assured the members of the District Council that before the Amendment is placed in the next session, a meeting will be held with the Home Ministry in New Delhi to discuss this, so that there is no confusion.

“We would like to ensure from our end that the word Village Dorbar should not be removed. All traditional practice and institutions should be strengthened,” added Chyne.

The role of the Village Dorbar or Village Council is to ensure that it looks after the peace and harmony in the village, developmental activities, basic amenities like drinking water, roads, etc.

Meanwhile, the KHADC members also apprised the CM of the newly-elected National People’s Party (NPP) Member of District Council (MDC) Lamphrang Blah. “We met the CM as a courtesy call and also discussed other issues,” said Chyne.

Sangma congratulated Blah and also took to his social media page and said, “Congratulations to Sh. Lamphrang Blah on being appointed as Chairman of the KHADC. My best wishes to him on his new responsibility.”

Union minister hails Assam’s power sector reforms