SHILLONG, May 24 � Chief Advisor to the Government of Meghalaya, DD Lapang today urged former Chief Executive Member of Khasi Hills District Council Adelberth Nongrum, to give up his hunger strike, saying the Government is taking steps to empower traditional institutions.
Lapang, who is also heading a committee for the institutionalisation of local bodies, said, the Government should be given time to frame legislations that would empower the traditional institutions.
Lapang, who called a press briefing this evening, further informed that the District Council Affairs Minister, HDR Lyngdoh, who is currently in the Union Capital would be convening a meeting of CEMs of the district councils of Khasi and Jaintia Hills to discuss the issue on May 27.
Nongrum and several regional political leaders are demanding that a Bill passed by the KHADC be approved by the State Government which would empower traditional heads through legislations.
Lapang said that the State Government has been clear from the beginning in its approach to deal with the situation and wants to work in the interest of the traditional headmen and local chiefs.
District Councils have the power to appoint, dismiss and control the headmen. But in the absence of detailed functions, the court has detected some loopholes, omissions and commissions, he said.
The Lapang-led committee has suggested that the government should bring out an ordinance to empower the traditional institutions. The State Government approved the Meghalaya Local Administration (Empowerment of Traditional Institutions, Traditional Bodies and Headmen in Governance and Public Delivery System) Ordinance, 2015 in this regard recently.
