KHADC to issue manual of instructions for traditional dorbars

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 17, 2019

SHILLONG:  The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to issue ‘manual of instructions’ for traditional dorbars while granting No objection certificate to non-tribal for obtaining trading license.

This is one of the initiatives proposed by the United Democratic Alliance-led executive committee as part of its endeavour to empower the indigenous people by ensuring they have an upper hand in the various trades.

“We will be issuing the manual of instructions for the dorbar shnongs. There will be certain provisions to be followed by them while clearing the No objection certificate to non-tribal traders,” KHADC executive member in-charge trade Paul Lyngdoh said on Wednesday.

According to him, granting of NOC should be based on the collective decision of the executive committee of a dorbar shnong.

Lyngdoh also informed that the Council will soon convene a meeting with all the dorbar shnongs to create awareness on the importance of working in close coordination between them and the KHADC.

This decision was also informed delegation of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) which has met Lyngdoh and handed over a letter of complaint demanding the KHADC to take action against illegal shops owned by non tribals.

EM in-charge Labour department Teiborlang Pathaw was also present during the meeting.

The HYC also submitted a list of over 200 non-tribal traders after conducting a surprise checking at Iewduh market as part of its Sier Lapalang Operation (SLO) on Tuesday.

Its general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said, “We demand the KHADC to take action against these illegal traders who most of them have failed to renew their licenses while some have never applied for trading license.”

Synrem informed that the delegation has also urged the Council to increase the manpower of its enforcement wing instead of depending on members of social organisations to conduct checking on illegal trading.

“We have also asked the KHADC to stop issuing of fresh trading license,” he said.

Meanwhile, the EM in-charge Trade said that the Council will verify the list as per the complaint. However, not a single license whether fresh or renewal has been cleared since the taking over of the new executive committee, he said.

Lyngdoh further informed that during a review meeting convened by him last month, it was also proposed to increase the license fee by 100 or 150 per cent.

“Once the new fee structure is approve, the question of issuing fresh or renewal of licenses will not arise,” he said.

He said there has been no revision in the license fee since 2005 and this has to a great extent attracted non-tribal traders to carry out their businesses in the region.

“The presence of a law is supposed to protect the trading by local people but when the fees are being way too reasonable it ultimately dilute the objective thereby paving way for people from outside,” Lyngdoh said.

Asked, the EM said of the approximately 10,000 non-tribal traders, only 5000 have obtained trading license from the Council. “And to ensure effective implementation of the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation, the Council has only 78 enforcement staff without uniforms and arms. We have also discussed all these issues on how to further strengthen the enforcement wing of the Council,” Lyngdoh said while adding that the objective is to revamp the department.