The Lympung Seng Kynthei has suggested the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) that at least two women from the seng kynthei of a locality should be included in the executive committee of the dorbar shnong.
Deputy CEM Pynshngain N Syiem told reporters after meeting leaders of the organisation today wanted women representation in the dorbar so intervene into any issues concerning women.
“The organisation leaders have also pointed out that if they are included in the executive commitee then they can also intervene in any issues concerning women, including cases of rape and other crimes,” he said.
The rules of the bill include having two women in the EC of the dorbar shnong and also tries to specify on the role of the women, Syiem added.
“There might be many shortcomings but what can be accommodated in the rules will be done and what cannot be done can be done later through an amendment,” he added while stating that what is more significant is that the terms Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Dong, Seng Kynthei, Seng Samla and social vigilance committee have been incorporated in the administration bill.
The organisation members led by president Theilin Phanbuh met Syiem and lauded the KHADC for passage of the administration bill that aims to acknowledge women’s participation in the dorbar shnongs.
Phanbuh said that this has been their demand since 2011 where they wanted the Dorbar Shnongs to be open to female participation in the male-only executive committee.
“We hope that this bill passed in the recent KHADC session becomes law and any drawbacks can be amended in time,” she said.
Although passed by the council, the amendment was opposed by the opposition for various reasons. Though many Dorbar Shnongs have included leaders of the Seng Kynthei in their executive committees, the Lympung Seng Kynthei wants this to be uniform across all Dorbars, with representation on the vigilance committees as well.
“Nowadays, most of the womenfolk are well educated and are represented in many platforms, including Parliament, and they can play a very important role to contribute for the betterment of society,” Phanbuh said, adding that once recognised by law the sense of stability will exist.
Phanbuh, however, made it clear that, as of now, the organisation is not for or against women leading the dorbar shnong as headman.
