Shillong Oct 29: A delegation of the Forum of Councils under Sixth Schedule (FOCUSS) on Tuesday met Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Anand Sharma in New Delhi and requested him to give more time to district councils in the Northeast to submit their views and suggestions on the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule and strengthening and empowering of the district councils.

The FOCUSS was led by its chairman, P.N. Syiem who is the chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

Syiem informed that the Parliamentary Standing Committee has accepted the request of FOCUSS to give more time to the district councils to submit their views and suggestions till the second week of December this year.

Members of the Forum also met the Home Ministry joint secretary, S Garg.

Syiem said that as far as the KHADC is concerned, members of the FOCUSS endorsed the decision taken during an all party meeting of the KHADC which it was decided that the number of MDCs in KHADC should be 31 members which include 29 elected members, and two nominated members. One of the nominated members should be from among the women.

Syiem said that the FOCUSS was happy as the Parliamentary Standing Committee has accepted the request and assured that the Committee would visit Guwahati and Shillong to solicit views from the MDCs and other stakeholders.