Traditional leaders of the Dorbar Khat-ar Raid in Ri Bhoi district has urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to urgently amend the KHAD (Nomination, Succession, and Election of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Lyngskor, Bakhraw, Sordar Shnat Raid, Longsan Mansan Shnat Raid, Rangbah Shnong or Sordar Shnong and Administration of Khyrim Syiemship) Act 2024.
According to the leaders (Syiem/Lyngdoh/Basans K-Ar Raid Saw Ksing Saw Lama, Sarikrai under Hima Khyrim), the Syiem of Khyrim and the district council have excluded them from the process of enacting the Act without seeking any recommendation, suggestions, or even proper representations from each of the Khat-Ar, (12) Raid.
“Any recommendations or suggestions made, if any, were partial and half-truths of the prevailing traditional customary practices as well as the situation in the place that has been accepted as the rule of law in administration in these areas of the Khat-ar Raid,” the leaders said..
They stated that the Act excludes certain members from the Raid administration, depriving them of the benefits and protection it was designed to provide. The law, which was intended to promote the welfare and rights of the tribal indigenous members, is otherwise because the provisions in it fail to recognise all individuals who are in line to carry on administrative (traditional/customary) duties and functions, the leaders added.
Demanding that the Act must be amended to ensure the inclusion of all rightful members who were part of the administration ever since the Khat-Ar Raid came into existence, the leaders also asked the KHADC to remove the word “Shnat” from the “Raid.”
“This word Shnat has never been found in any of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Acts about Raid Saw Ksing Saw Lama Sarikrai, and it is the very first time that any Raid has been demoted to be Shnat Raid. This demotion from Raid to Shnat Raid is uncalled for and does not require the term “Shnat” recognition since all Raids are empowered by the Dorbar, the Syiem, and the KHADC to function in their capacity since their inception. The word “Shnat” symbolizes that the Raids are re-categorized as being demoted from their positions,” they stated.
The leaders have urged the KHADC chairman to immediately constitute a committee to review the exclusions.
