Meghalaya has proposed to the central government that Rangbah Shnongs, Sordars and Nokmas be made ex-officio members of the proposed village councils that will be created through the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma informed this following a cabinet meeting here today.
The issue of having village councils has drawn opposition from some quarters who feel that it will lead to a reduction in the powers of indigenous tribals over their land.
To assuage some of these fears, the state cabinet has approved a proposal that the village councils be fully elected, though the chairman will be the headman as chosen through the prevailing indigenous methods of election.
These suggestions were made by the three autonomous district councils, Sangma said, adding that they will be raised with the Centre in his next visit to New Delhi.
Meanwhile, on the issue of the expanded district councils, the CM informed that the state government will recommend to the Centre that the number of MDCs in the GHADC and KHADC be increased to 40 each, while the JHADC will grow to 32.
The KHADC had earlier opposed the expansion as it said it did not have the funds to pay for the extra MDCs. However, it now appears to have been won round.
“In the number of seats, the proposal that the government of Meghalaya has given is that Khasi Hills and Garo Hills shall have not more than 40 members, out of which not more than four will be nominated and the rest will be elected through adult suffrage. As for Jaiñtia Hills, it will have not more than 32 members out of which not more than two will be nominated and the rest will be elected through adult suffrage,” Sangma informed.
