Hazel Tariang
The Government of India Act 1935 was monumental in its provision of election into the general assembly to women without the need for a contracted fight for suffragette like in Europe.
In the 1937 elections held under this act, Berlina Diengdoh and Mavis Dunn Lyngdoh contested reserved seats, and the latter was elected as the first woman to the assembly. Since then, women have evolved and dominated in the sphere of political institutions in India, but less so in Meghalaya.
The Meghalayan spoke to the women contesting the upcoming assembly polls, slated for 27 February 2023.
Jasmine Mary Lyngdoh
National People’s Party, 21 Nongthymmai
Jasmine Mary Lyngdoh comes from a long line of politicians in her family, but she began her service to the community as a clinical psychologist for 25 years. Through politics, she wants to be the ‘link between the government and the people’.
‘Women shy [away] from politics because it involves a lot of public work and networking with different heads and institutions […] we […] underestimate the potential of women to lead’. She says women cannot contest elections overnight, but must nurture their political career. ‘There are many hurdles to face, many mindsets to change and efforts are needed, but taking it one day at a time is the way forward’.
Angela Rangad
KAM, South Shillong
Angela Rangad, a veteran social activist and organiser, says that we live in a patriarchal world. She adds that Meghalaya’s dominant culture of matrilineality is only limited to lineage and inheritance, while men have controlled rulership and political decision-making. She says there is resistance against women’s participation at the level of the dorbar as well.
Her vision, if she were to win the South Shillong seat, is to bridge the gap of inequality – both in participation and class inequality. She says, Meghalaya cannot limit women’s participation in politics to a dynastic one, where only the daughters, wives and sisters of powerful men are bestowed special preference.
Elgiva Gwyneth Rynjah
All India Trinamool Congress, North Shillong
A lone candidate fromher constituency,Elgiva Gwyneth Rynjah also mentions that the matrilineal cultures in Meghalaya have not allowed women a platform in the political sphere, where men have traditionally and conventionally ruled.She credits the Trinamool Congress for paving the way for her involvement in politics.
She says, young leaders, especially the future generations, ought to take responsibility for their own betterment, and that women must especially step up and actively involve themselves in the politics of health, education and business, which she adds are pertinent to women’s daily affairs.
Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew
KAM, East Shillong
Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew was also a social worker before her entry into politics under the newly formed worker-centric KAM. She says, ‘Women should break the “stereotype” of being a homemaker and take the lead in leadership. They should have the decision-making power to affect society’.
Kharsyntiew wants a state free of crime, dynastic politics and poverty. Two decades of experience as a social worker have shown her that people at the grassroots have no access to long-term sustainable development or even basic social security. Effectively, she says, millions live on daily wage, completely ‘hand to mouth’. ‘We should create more opportunities for women to participate in programmes to upgrade their station’, she says, adding that ‘the government must take the role of training women to sustain a standard of living’.
Venetia Pearl Mawlong
INC, 19-South Shillong
Congress candidate Venetia Pearl Mawlong bemoans the state of women’s representation in the state. She believes women fear coming forward, and thus cannot make it in politics. She is confident that women’s traditional roles in fact empower them to play a major role in politics – locally and nationally.
If elected to power, Mawlong seeks to eliminate the rising epidemic of drug trade and addiction, advance the health sector, establish drug rehabilitation centres across all constituencies and improve road connectivity and quality.