Traditional village heads oppose Bill
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Shillong, October 18 2013 : The 'Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Nongthymmai Pyllun (SKRSNP)' or a conglomerate of traditional village heads has expressed its opposition to the proposed 'Regulation of Landlord and Verification of Tenants Bill 2013' of the state government to check influx citing that it is totally against the 'indigenous customary law' .

There are 13 traditional village heads in SKRSNP.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the SKRSNP which includes Nongrim Hills, Nongshilliang, Pohkseh, Rynjah, Lapalang, Lumbatngen, Lumiawblot, Demthring, Nongkhyriem, Lawjynriew, Lumsohphoh, Lumdiengsoh and Lumpyngngad held at Nongshilliang.

Mentionably, while rejecting the demand of the NGOs for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, the State government has decided to introduce the Regulation and Landlord and Verification of Tenants Bill 2013 as part of its comprehensive mechanism to address to the problem of influx.

"We strongly protest the move of the state government to introduce the Bill since it is against our customary law," SKRSNP chairman WB Najiar said.

According to them, the present practice of the Dorbar Shnong according to the customary law is running and functioning smoothly and is helping to curb influx in many ways and forms.

After deliberating on the draft tenancy bill, the members of the Synjuk further stated that they have also found that the proposed Bill is not at all feasible to the manner and ways that the traditional bodies are functioning.

"The proposed will affect both the landowners as well as the indigenous tenants of the state," they asserted.

They however suggested, "The government should give more power to the traditional bodies to curb and check influx at different level" .

The Synjuk also urged the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to take up serious steps to implement in letter and spirit the powers and functions of the Dorbar Shnong as enshrined in the Sixth Scheduled of the Indian Constitution.

Moreover, the Synjuk condemned the irresponsible and baseless allegation of the Mylliem legislator RV Lyngdoh in objection to the resolution of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the recently concluded Assembly Session that the Dorbar Shnong, Syiems are responsible to the influx since they are issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) for trade license and certificates.

"Lyngdoh should know that all these NOCs are being issued by the government authority and district councils and the power to grant and not to grant lies absolutely with them," the chairman said adding, "We urge the MLAs to refrain from such immature comment in future" .

Meanwhile, the Synjuk also expressed deep concern on the incident of arsons and destructions of government and public properties.

"We appeal to all the NGOs and Dorbar Shnongs to take serious step to check such incidents acted by the anti-social elements and miscreants taking advantage of the present deteriorating law and order situation," the release added.

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