Meghalaya Governor C. H. Vijayashankar on Monday asked the State’s political class to prepare for a significant shift in the political landscape with the possible implementation of the proposed 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, indicating that the reform could result in not less than 20 women legislators entering the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly while at least one of the State’s two parliamentary seats may be reserved for women from the next election cycle.
Speaking at a programme organised by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya under the State Hub for Empowerment of Women to mark International Women’s Day and the completion of eleven years of the Union government’s flagship scheme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao at Lok Bhavan, the Governor said the political leadership in the State must mentally prepare for the structural changes that the proposed reservation could bring to legislative institutions.
Addressing the gathering, Governor CH Vijayashankar said,
“I think probably from Next. Election this is going to come, then 33 percent in the sense is not less than 20 female Legislators will be able to sit in the assembly in the state of Meghalaya. No clash. And minimum one MP is going to be reserved for the female community out of two MPs in Meghalaya. This is going to happen and mentally we have to be prepared for that.”
Highlighting Meghalaya’s distinct social structure, he said the State stands apart from many parts of the country because of its matrilineal traditions.
“This particularly Meghalaya, it is a female dominated society. Reasons whatever it may be but it is a female dominated society. Incase of the rest of India, including my state Karnataka, the ancestral property right being the eldest son of the family, it comes to me, it is going to be transferred in my name, but whereas in case of Meghalaya it is not like that, ultimately ancestral property goes to the youngest daughter of the family. They are going to mention the mother’s name and not the father’s name,” Governor Vijayashankar said.
Referring to the significance of the observance, the Governor said the celebration of International Women’s Day should reinforce the message of equality and eliminate discrimination between men and women.
“The main intention of celebrating International Women’s day is to tell the society at large no discrimination between male and female. When females can achieve anything, they can become anything. God never makes discrimination, it is done by us,” The Governor said.
He also drew attention to persistent social challenges affecting young women, particularly teenage pregnancy, and stressed the need for greater awareness, improved access to education and stronger community support to address the issue.
Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, West Shillong legislator and Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya in the Social Welfare Department Paul Lyngdoh contrasted the nurturing role played by women in society with the destructive consequences of conflict, referring to the war in the Middle East.
“….while women are quietly lighting up lamps ensuring the flame remains alight as I speak, on the contrary, the men are lighting up skys in the middle East with a lot of noise, a lot of violance and a lot of damage,” Lyngdoh added.
