Shillong: A group of Khasi women, who have formed an organisation by the name of STIEH, meaning shield, has lent support to amendments to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997, which says Khasi women who marry non-Khasis would lose their Khasi status.

Saiñdur Tip-Kur Tip-Kha ïeng Tylli Eh Rngiew - Khun Hynñiewtrep (STIEH) has emerged to counter criticism against the amendments to the act brought by the executive committee, led by H.S. Shylla of the NPP.

As per the amendment to Section 3 of the act, "Any Khasi woman who marries a non-Khasi, as well as offspring born of such marriage shall be deemed as non-Khasi who shall lose the Khasi status and all privileges and benefits as a member of the Khasi tribe who cannot claim preferential privileges under any law".

Amendment to Section 2 states that a "non-Khasi" means "a person not belonging to indigenous Khasi tribe classified as Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) order, 1950 (part III - Rules and Orders under the Constitution) Part XI - Meghalaya."

The amendments to the act were notified on July 24 and the council passed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 last month.

On Friday, the group organised a meeting at the Khasi National Durbar Hall here to dispel the criticism against the bill as propounded by a section of people who are not in favour of such amendments.

Speakers expressed concern over Khasi women getting married to non-Khasi men especially those from non-indigenous communities. They felt the amendments would "protect" the microscopic Khasi community.

KHADC deputy chief executive member Teilinia Thangkhiew clarified that the amended legislation was not "anti-women" as it does not bar anyone from getting married to a person belonging to any community.

"Tribal communities living in other parts of the country have expressed their support to the amended legislation because they themselves had been subjected to various problems," she said.

Those opposing the amended legislation had earlier written to Governor Ganga Prasad asking him to withhold his assent.They said the amended legislation was an affront to the matrilineal system practised by the Khasiswhich sought to recast the Khasi matrilineal practice by seeking to strip a Khasi woman and her children of their Khasi and Scheduled Tribe status.