Shillong, Jan 17: The meeting chaired by Shri. John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, MSPB, & Chairman Working Grp 3, convened by the State Planning Board, continued discussions on 17th January 2014, at 1 pm in the Committee Room 2, Meghalaya Main Secretariat, on the presentation by GHADC, on the justification to address the need and shortage of Human Resources and Manpower, including sharing of revenue and other related sectors submitted by the by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in Meghalaya, KHADC and JHADC sought more time to submit their presentations on justifications for need of more manpower : –
The GHADC officials urged the MSBP to intervene and recommend to the State Government for review and enhancement of the present 25:75 revenue sharing ratio to a 50 : 50 sharing basis, so as to enable the ADCs to manage their financial requirements and to also adequately enhance the plan allocation.
The GHADC during their presentation stressed for further manpower to strengthening the GHADC departments of Civil, Forest, Finance, Taxation (Enforcement), Land Records and IT .
They submitted that due to funds constrains they were yet to introduce IT in the various departments. The meeting was of the view that the GHADC should approach the IT Department, of the State Government for help in having their own website similar to KHADC. The MSPB felt that introduction of IT technology in the management and administration of Finance Dept, Transport Dept, Toll Gates, Collection of Professional Taxes, and Trading Licenses, will in a large way address the leakages in the revenues of the GHADC.
Presently, the GHADC informed that they had an approximate staff strength of 1200 and the total expenditure on salaries was about Rs 3 crs per month (36 Cr per year) while their over all receipts from revenue and state government aid was about Rs 30 cr approximately.
The GHADC also informed that they have approached the State Government for deputing police personnel to the ADC to assist in Enforcement of Trading License as their present enforcement staff was not empowered with powers to Police.
The GHADC also urged the MSPB to recommend to the State Government to simplify the process of releasing funds and revenue share of the GHADC.
On the question of revenue sharing the Co-Chairman, informed that Law and Finance Dept will shortly constitute the Meghalaya State Finance Commission as mandated by the Act this commission would go into the issues of revenue sharing between the State, District Council and Traditional Bodies.
The GHADC also informed that they required financial support for setting up Additional Distrtict Judge and Circuit Courts in all the Five Districts of Garo Hills.
With regards to the presentation on the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule, the DCA Dept informed that the proposed amendments submitted by the three ADCs was still under review and consideration.
This is the second review by the MSPB Working Grp -3 earlier the same was held on 5th December 2013.
The Co-Chairman, informed that the MSPB Working Grp-3 will be meeting again to continue the process of review with KHADC, JHADC and GHADC after the ensuing MDC elections. The Under Secy, MSPB was advised to obtain the complete information from the KHADC and JHADC
at the earliest to enable the Working Group to complete their review process.
The Meghalaya State Planning Board, Working Group – 3 was addressed and chaired by Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, MSPB, and Chairman Working Group -3, in presence of Shri. Francis PR Sangma, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Dr(Smt) Eureka Lyngdoh, Deputy Chairman, MSPB, Shri. KS Nongbri, Joint Secretary, Finance(EA) Dept, Smt. EM Lyngdoh, Under Secy, DCA Dept, Shri. HA Sangma, Secretary, Executive Committee, GHADC, Shri. RB Marak, SE, GHADC, and officials of the State Planning Board.(SP News)
