HONGKONG: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has appealed for letters to be written to authorities demanding an immediate investigation into a case involving women barred from food ration in a village in Meghalaya and to resolve the fair distribution of grains in the village. The AHRC is also writing separately to the UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food and other concerned authorities for immediate action.
AHRC had received “disturbing information” from Civil Society Women's Organisation (CSWO), an anti-corruption and women's rights organization based in Shillong, Meghalaya, about women being barred from village meetings and from availing food rations under the Indian Public Distribution System (PDS) in a remote village of Kynroh Nonglyer, Sohiong (Lyngdohship), East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, about 50 kms from Shillong.
“The PDS, a food security programme of the union government is one source of food at affordable price across India, allow women to avail its benefits,” noted the AHRC. However, it informed, Dorbar leaders in the village deprived some of the women beneficiaries of their right to food. AHRC in a statement said, “Of times, due to political interference and corruption, the traditional mode of administration in certain villages becomes a hindrance to equality. The decisions of the Dorbar are not always egalitarian and sometimes violate principles of justice and gender equality. In this case, the actions of the Dorbar have also restricted the women's freedom of expression and political participation.”
“Meghalaya is a state characterised by its matrilineal system of inheritance and its gender equality. Khasi traditions bolster this impression: the youngest daughter inherits all ancestral property, men are expected to migrate to their wives’ homes after marriage, and children must take their mother’s family name. However, the case demonstrates how the Khasi tribal community in Meghalaya while being structurally matrilineal has become functionally patriarchal. The Dorbar system is primarily meant for welfare of the village. However, its exclusive composition of male members sometimes imposes patriarchal dicta in a society that follows a matrilineal system of inheritance.”
Further, AHRC found fault in the working of the Sixth Schedule of the constitution of India in Meghalaya, with contradictions in terms of functions and power sharing. “Three different types of courts exist in the state: District Council courts, the court of Deputy Commissioners, and Village councils, like the Dorbar. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution in 2001, the recommendations of which have been completely ignored, suggested amendments to the Schedule VI, by recommending the removal anomalies and contradictions,” AHRC stated.
