Shillong, Mar 9: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday said the proposed constitution of village councils and municipal councils will be under the purview of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).
The 125th Amendment Bill to amend the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution has incorporated the constitution of village councils and municipal councils under the purview of the district councils, Rymbui said while replying to a short duration discussion moved by AITC MLA from Umroi George B Lyngdoh in the Assembly.
He said the number of village councils and municipal councils to be formed, their composition and number of seats in each such council are to be provided for by the district councils, through legislation.
The manner of allocation of seats in such councils, the delimitation of territorial constituencies for the purpose of election to these councils on the basis of adult suffrage, the qualification for voting at elections to these councils, qualification for being elected as members of these councils as well as the grounds for their disqualification, their term of office, the powers to be exercised and functions to be performed by these councils are also to be provided for by the district councils, by legislation.
Stating that the inherited customary traditions and practices for election of a village head such as sirdar/nokma/ rangbah shnong are still followed today, Rymbui however said these practices are evolving, but not quickly enough to provide for the participation of women at such elections.
Yet, the modern day definition of democratic practices includes the participation of women in all political, social and economic activities and the decision-making process for all these activities.
“Giving due regard to these requirements as well as our customs and culture which define us, it was decided to have village councils, village dorbars under the district councils as per the provisions stipulated in the Amendment Bill, with a slight difference,” he said.
Rymbui said the village councils/village dorbars will be headed by the sirdar/nokma/rangbah shnong, elected as per the existing practice, as ex-officio chairman of the council/dorbar.
The secretary and other members of the village councils/village dorbars shall be elected from amongst the inhabitants of the area, in accordance with democratic institutions and processes.
“It is expected that this arrangement will not only satisfy the objectives of the Amendment Bill but bring out and harmonise the best of both worlds towards a better future for our state,” he added.
Meanwhile, the home minister said in the various discussions between the Centre and the state, it was made clear that the increase in the number of seats has to be decided on the basis of the population and or area of the Autonomous District.
For this purpose, the population as per the 2011 Census was taken into account.
After lengthy discussions and examination of the matter, it was decided to increase the number of seats in the KHADC and GHADC to a maximum of 40 of whom 36 shall be elected on the basis of adult suffrage and the rest to be nominated by the Governor and that the JHADC to a maximum of 32 of whom 30 shall be elected on the basis of adult suffrage and the rest to be nominated by the Governor, he said.
Rymbui further maintained that the criteria for nomination of the members by the Governor have been worked out by the Government and seats to be filled by nomination would not be reserved for un-represented tribes.
