August 21, 2026

How women in Meghalaya’s Khweng village got their right to vote

In Khweng, Meghalaya, women pushed to be included in electing the village headman—and won a place in local governance.

2 min read

In Meghalaya’s Khweng village, the headman was once chosen by a voice vote at a village meeting. Whoever got the most voice votes and the loudest shouts was chosen. Women were neither part of this meeting nor did they have a say. Iohnam Syiem, secretary of the Village Employment Council, and Redian Syiem, former secretary of the women’s group Seng Kynthei, pushed the village council to change this.

Watch this video where Iohnam, Redian, and council member Lastnokhel Jalong explain how the change came about, and what it means for women’s role in village governance.

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Know more

Learn how women are leading the protests against the Ken-Betwa river-linking project.
Learn why a village in Assam-Meghalaya border votes in both states.

Tags: local governance, Northeast India, rural India, women rights

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Banteilang Syiem

Banteilang Syiem is a documentary film-maker from Meghalaya. He spends time with farmers and local communities, documenting their traditional food systems, indigenous knowledge, and ways of life passed down through generations. He has founded a youth-led eco club in his village that runs environmental awareness programmes and nature education sessions in schools and documents local biodiversity, folk songs, and folk stories, thus encouraging youth to reconnect with their environment and the traditions that shape their community. Banteilang is a former Green Hub Fellow.

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How women in Meghalaya’s Khweng village got their right to vote

In Khweng, Meghalaya, women pushed to be included in electing the village headman—and won a place in local governance.

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