KHADC ask to review Mylliem Act, Rule

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 21, 2020

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has been demanded to review the Mylliem Act, 2007 and Mylliem Syiemship Rule, 2015 in order to empower the citizens and to ensure annual dorbar of the Hima is convened regularly.

The demand was made by a delegation of ‘u khun u hajar’ or citizens of the Hima led by John F Kharshiing before the KHADC chairman, Pyniaid Sing Syiem during a meeting held here on Monday.

A memorandum was also submitted to Syiem requesting his intervention to convene a meeting of the MDCs (around 12-15) having constituencies within the jurisdiction of the Hima Mylliem to discuss the need to improve the acts and rules of the hima.

This also came in the wake of the growing demand for implementation of the inner line permit (ILP) to check unabated influx into the state.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kharshiing said that the existing Acts of the different Hima (chiefdom) including that of the Hima Mylliem if implemented in letter and spirit can be like ILP.

“ILP is one fencing but we need more fencing (like these acts) to protect the indigenous community,” he said.

Kharshiing however said there is need to have more clarity on the different traditional practices and categories of citizenship prevailing since time immemorial in the Khasi states.

The category of citizenship include u khun u hajar (citizens), u khun soh shnong (Khasi migrants and from different Khasi states), u khun soh Syiem (kith and kin of the Khasi rulers within the Hima or who migrate and settle in different Hima), u Raiot (Non tribals and non Khasi).

In some of the Hima, they also have another category of citizenship known as Dkho (Achik or Garo).

Stating that the delegation also called for a policy within the Hima Mylliem relating to “raiot” or non-tribals, Kharshiing said, “The KHADC needs to properly define the role of the raiot and if they do so, ILP is implemented within the hima.”

The delegation also stressed on the need to conduct the annual dorbar of the hima while suggesting that within 30 days, the hima should submit their report of the proceedings to the Elaka department and failing to do so should attract automatic convening of the dorbar hima by the Elaka department of the council.

“I have in these years received many complaints about why there is no clear process for proper rules for conduct of business for the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima. Similarly today we have residents within Hima Mylliem who have questioned why there is no clear provision and proactive process within the Mylliem Act 2007 and Rule 2015 for the Syiem and the Elaka department to automatically convene the annual Dorbar Shnong or Dorbar Raid or Dorbar Hima when the authorities fail to convene such Dorbar in presence of the citizens as per the tradition the Dorbar Kur, the  Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, and the  Syiem and Dorbar Hima Mylliem must submit their annual report including the audited receipt and income the complete budget before u khun u hajar (citizens),” he said.

He however said strangely, the KHADC seeks budget from the Syiem and Dorbar bypassing the Dorbar Hima.

On the other hand, Kharshiing also said, “We also need the dorbar hima to discuss larger issues of sanitation and waste management, the Meghalaya building byelaw 2011 & 2015, the NHAI Act 1988, the Indian Registration Act 1908, the MMDR Act 1957, the Meghalaya Town & Country Planning Act 1973, the Citizenship Act 1955, the Forest Conservation Act 1980, and many other Acts which require amendments as they are in conflict to the traditional social practices and customs.”