SHILLONG:
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM), Titosstarwell Chyne, has said that a social committee has been formed to examine the matter pertaining to the inclusion of women in Dorbar Shnong (village council).
Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei (umbrella body of women’s organisations) met and also submitted a memorandum to the KHADC CEM on March 29 to discuss the participation of women in the manifold discussions and decision-making in the dorbar shnong.
Speaking to The Meghalayan, the KHADC CEM said, “We have formed a social committee to study the matter. Neither do I accept or reject the proposal but it needs to be examined.”
“This is a sensitive issue. Khasi custom and tradition allows only men in the dorbar shnong. The groups said that they want to participate in the election for headman as well as executive committee members of the shnong,” he added.
He said that the request to include women in decision-making in the shnong is found to be from the urban and sub-urban areas and no such appeal has been made by women folks in the rural areas.
Chyne also said that there are dorbar shnongs which allow women to participate in the election for the headman and the executive committee members but the law does not recognise such participation.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei, Tentiness Swer, said that the matter has been raised with the KHADC since 2011.
She said, “In the past, there were some dorbar shnongs which allowed women participation but it is not uniform.”
In this connection, they have asked the KHADC to frame laws in accordance with the changing times.