The long-awaited appointment of a Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) was finally filled today with the state cabinet clearing the name of Iamonlang M Syiem for the post.
Syiem was formerly the Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. She stepped down from that role on March 1 after attaining the age of 65.
However, the cabinet decided to increase the age limit for the MSCW from 65 to 70, thereby allowing Syiem to take on the new role.
This was one of the reasons for the delay in announcing the new Chairperson as the cabinet wanted to seek the views of the Law Department.
The commission had been without a chair since its previous head, Phidalia Toi, was removed after she reportedly took part in a political rally for a particular candidate ahead of the state elections early last year.
According to government spokesperson and Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, the new MSCW Chairperson has vast experience in the field of protection of children and women’s rights. She is also a retired Associate Professor and was Head of the Department of Sociology at St Edmund’s College.
Another reason for the delay in naming Syiem in the new post was the Model Code of Conduct that applied in the run-up and during the Lok Sabha election.
