Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), Phidalia Toi has resigned from her post after she was served with a show-cause notice by the Social Welfare Department.
This came hours after she declared a “fight” with Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh today.
Toi told Highland Post that she has replied to the show-cause notice and also tendered her resignation. “I will decide on my future course on Monday,” she added.
Earlier, after attending a seminar on single mothers at the State Convention Centre here, Toi stated that a show-cause was issued to her only after two press conferences by the minister.
“I will reply to the show-cause and today is the last date. I got the show-cause notice only after two press conferences and hence there is a fight”, Toi told reporters.
Lyngdoh had recently announced the removal of Toi for associating herself with a political party’s campaign in Jowai during this year’s Assembly elections and for not attending the requisite number of MSCW meetings.
The MSCW described Toi’s sacking as ultra vires and against the law. However, Lyngdoh defended his stand stating that his action was taken after he had studied a detailed report.
In February, Toi, had been photographed participating in an NPP rally in support of Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla.
She was then sent a show-cause notice by the Election Commission after a complaint was received from the Congress party.
A reply to the show-cause was made by Toi on February 13 to the Election Commission.
Following the show-cause notice, on February 14 the State government issued a notification that mentioned that the Women’s Commission “stands denotified with effect from 18th January, 2023”.
Interestingly, the February 14 notification was again “cancelled” through another notification issued by Commissioner & Secretary (Social Welfare Department), Pravin Bakshi on February 16.
“The impunity and lies with which this government operates is unbridled and unmatched. They lied that the commission was wound up through that notification. How can bureaucracy and the political class operate like this with utter impunity disregarding processes and rule of law and fooling the people?” social activist Angela Rangad questioned.
“We hope for a women’s commission chief to be tough and not be pushed around by the political class. In this instance she has broken the law and code of ethics,” Rangad said.
Pointing out that Meghalaya was one of the last states to get a women’s commission, Rangad said women had fought to strengthen the commission by giving it teeth and not just be placed for retired officers and political appointees and setting up of an institutional mechanism search and selection committee ensure participation and transparency.
While the second commission can be said to have been one of the better commissions, however when it’s term ended political appointees reared their heads again, Rangad said, adding, “Talk about power hungry women patriarchs! Ex-politicians warmed the seat till election time again and very undemocratically handed the reins to a relative who then ensured an extension of her own term.”
It may be mentioned that since November 2020, the important post, which is directly linked to the welfare of suffering women fell vacant after the term of Theilin Phanbuh ended, much to the detriment of countless women seeking redress of domestic violence, maintenance etc.
Toi was then appointed as the chairperson of the panel in December, 2021 after a delay. Prior to her appointment, it is learnt that the government had received four candidates for the post, but was not satisfied with them.
These are L Tariang, retired deputy director of the Social Welfare Department, O B Tariang, a businesswoman, Pynhun Suchiang, another retired Social Welfare Department official, and Bharati B. Sangma, an ex-member of the women’s commission and college lecturer.
A Right to Information (RTI) query by social activist Agnes Kharshiing revealed that on December 7, 2020 the Social Welfare Department had recommended the appointment of former chairperson of the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, Meena Kharkongor as chairperson of the women’s commission.
