Constitutional status to traditional institutions: RSGDAC

Shillong, Apr 26 (UNI) Rajya Sabha Grassroots Democracy Advisory Council (RSGDAC) Chairman John F Kharshiing today urged the Meghalaya government to provide constitutional status to the traditional institutions in the state.

Mr Kharshiing said the constitutional status was needed so that they can participate in administrative governance.

In a letter to Chief Minister D D Lapang, Mr Kharshiing said, the Centre in 1989 had exempted the operation of the Panchayati Raj Act in the state due to presence of self-governance institutions.

Despite several meetings and memorandums to the previous governments, no steps had been taken so far to enact defined state laws for providing constitutional status to the institutions.

Mr Kharshiing said the Integrated Development Project by Tata Consultancy Services could be processed if the state government were to provide an opportunity and initiate state legislation in this regard.

Appreciating the initiatives taken by the Centre for intensive urban infrastructure improvement programme, Mr Kharshiing said the urban local bodies would be required to sign an MoU with the Centre.

UNI