Shillong, Meghalaya – The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO), a prominent youth organisation in Meghalaya, has called for sweeping reforms in the state’s autonomous district councils, citing longstanding political interference and ineffective governance that has compromised traditional institutions.
In a letter to Governor CH Vijayashankar, HITO outlined concerns over the politicisation of the councils, particularly in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).
The letter emphasized the urgent need for reform, demanding that the councils be depoliticised and that traditional chiefs be integrated into their governance structures.
HITO highlighted that political influence within the councils has reached troubling levels, noting that a new political party even emerged from within KHADC between 2015 and 2018.
According to the letter, 97% of the Members of District Council (MDCs) typically go on to contest MLA elections, often leaving the councils in administrative disarray.
The organisation’s proposals include reserving 10 nominated seats within the KHADC and JHADC for traditional chiefs – such as the Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Wahadar, and Dolloi. HITO President Donbok Dkhar voiced concerns over the councils’ inefficiency, citing that sessions are often limited to one or two days, which hampers the codification of traditional laws.
HITO’s letter also revealed that KHADC has had 43 Chief Executive Members over six decades, leading to incomplete codification of social and customary laws affecting 54 Khasi and 19 Jaintia traditional states for nearly 70 years.
Among the key reforms HITO proposed are:
• Barring political parties from participating in district council elections
• Reducing council members’ tenure from five years to four
• Mandating monthly sessions lasting at least 20 days
• Introducing recall provisions for ineffective representatives
• Conducting proper delimitation of council constituencies
Expressing the frustrations of the state’s youth, HITO questioned the relevance of the councils in their current form, calling for a complete overhaul of their structure and functioning.
Additionally, the organisation requested the formation of a special committee under the Union Home Minister to honour the commitments made in the 1948 Instrument of Accession agreement between the Government of India and the Khasi States, a move aimed at reinforcing the constitutional status of traditional institutions in Meghalaya.
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