Meghalaya is one of the few existing matrilineal societies in the world, and one of the few States in India where the sex ratio is not skewed, and female voters have actually exceeded male voters in recent years. Women, however, have a very limited say in local decision-making and governance.
They are allowed to sit at meetings, but necessary decisions are almost always made by male members. As such, there are some puzzling contradictions in the status of women in Meghalaya. The State has begun an initiative to involve women in local governance to increase their political empowerment. We believe an increase in the political participation of women should also translate into better education, health and labour market outcomes.
Status of Women
Indicators where Meghalaya is doing well
989: The sex ratio as per the 2011 Census, is among the highest in the country
3.4 pp: Gap in male and female literacy as per the 2011 Census, the lowest among all the Indian states
33%: Female Labor Force Participation, is higher than the national rate but lower compared to some other northeast states
34%: Land Holdings With Women, highest among all Indian states
Meghalaya’s Gender Responsiveness
The then Meghalaya Cabinet approved the 1st ever policy for the Reservation of 50 pc seats for women in local body elections, perhaps the 1st such state in India to approve a policy for the reservation of 50 pc seats only for women. This is an affirmative action brought out for the first time to address gender inequality in a matrilineal society.
The policy stipulates that women can contest for the post every year, but the norms could be changed so as to have only women candidates in alternate election years. Prior to the reservation policy, there were only 326 women functionaries in VECs, constituting 79 Chairpersons and 247 Secretaries. As of September 2022, there are over 2482 women currently holding leadership positions in VECs, including 1010 Chairpersons and 1472 Secretaries in Meghalaya. Smti. Lakmen Mary Nongkhlaw, Secretary of Kyrdem Khla VEC, has been the Secretary of the VEC for 9 years, even before the reservation policy was constituted.
Smti. Lakmen Mary Nongkhlaw, Secretary of Kyrdem Khla VEC
The impact of this reservation can be seen through the difference in the maintenance of records and documents in all VECs where the post of Secretary is held by a woman. The Block officials are able to account for every work order and expenditure incurred by the VEC at any given time as the records are always up to date.
