After taking over as the new Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Shemborlang Rynjah of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) said that the new executive committee has decided not to issue trading licences in trades where the indigenous people are capable.
“This is one of our foremost agenda so that our youths can stand on their own feet,” Rynjah told reporters today.
Other areas that the new EC will focus on are building by-laws, a KHADC recruitment policy, border issues and the environment.
He said that the VPP has received complaints from the public that they are facing difficulties due to the district council’s building by-laws. Rynjah said that the new executive committee hopes to look into this matter so that there is no harassment to poor families looking to build houses according to their means.
“But if the council harasses or puts a heavy price on getting building permissions, this will be disappointing for those families who want to build a house,” the CEM added.
Rynjah added that if one builds a house it should not damage the environment, pollute the water bodies even as he added that through the building by-laws, the KHADC will try and regulate the construction of commercial complexes.
On the recruitment policy, the CEM said that his administration will try to speed up the process. Although it has service rules for its employees once hired, the KHADC has never had a recruitment policy, leaving the door open to corruption and favouritism in the appointment of staff.
Rynjah also said that the new EC apart from preserving the culture and traditions and language of the Khasis will also protect the environment and forests.
Another item on the VPP agenda is to give sufficient attention to the border areas of the Khasi Hills, parts of which are in dispute with Assam. “For the benefit of our people living in the border areas, we will look into how to bring safety and security through this executive committee,” Rynjah added.
Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) Member of District Council (MDC), Shemborlang Rynjah, who won for the first time from Lyngkyrdem-Laitkroh constituency, has been elected unopposed as the new Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Meanwhile, Strong Pillar Kharjana was elected as the new Chairman of the Council uncontested.
