Shillong: A formal appeal has been lodged by the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), calling for urgent measures to strengthen the authority of traditional governing bodies and implement restrictions on non-Hynniewtrep individuals participating in district council elections.
The pressure group’s letter highlights a growing concern over the erosion of power experienced by traditional institutions such as the Dorbar Shnong and the Syiems.
HITO expressed significant dissatisfaction with the accumulated limitations imposed by past District Council members, which have progressively diminished the autonomy and influence of these historically revered entities. The group is now calling upon the newly elected KHADC to rectify these issues by dismantling the legislative barriers that have undermined the authority of traditional leaders, aiming to reinstate their dignity and standing within the community.
In addition to restoring traditional authority, HITO has advocated for reforms in the KHADC’s operational rules, aligning with the VOICE of the People Party’s 2025 electoral platform. The group is pushing for the introduction of concrete measures to facilitate the effective implementation of policies that ensure the proper functioning of traditional institutions.
This includes a proposal for a fixed annual date for Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, and Dorbar Hima meetings, mirroring the mandated meeting schedules for Autonomous District Councils, state assemblies, and parliament. They have also called for the establishment of an impartial body or tribunal to handle grievances promptly, fostering transparency, clarity, and improved governance within traditional structures.
Further concerns were raised by HITO regarding the current status of the Khasi tribe within the Meghalaya Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. The group emphasized the lack of progress on amending the ST list, despite numerous resolutions passed by previous ADCs, which they believe poses a significant threat to the socio-economic advancement of the Khasi people. They pointed to the exclusion of the Khasi tribe from the ST list in Nagaland as a stark example, stressing the urgent need for amendments in Meghalaya to rectify this anomaly.
HITO concluded their appeal by imploring the KHADC to take immediate and decisive action on these critical issues, emphasizing the necessity to safeguard the rights, autonomy, and future of the Hynniewtrep people residing in Meghalaya.
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