Shillong, May 23: The claim of the Chief Minister Shri Conrad Sangma that the State Government intends to turn Meghalaya into a 10 billion dollars economy by 2027-28 while presenting the Budget for 2023-24 is nothing but farcical statement.
The State with a Fiscal deficit budget of Rs 1592 crore is day dreaming of becoming Rs 80,000 Crore economy in the next five years. Moreso when it is spending left, right and centre on a horde of committees, commissions or council which are unproductive but only fleecing the citizens of the State just to serve the political interest of the NPP and its partners in crime.
The NPP led Government of Meghalaya during the period of 2018 to 2023 has constituted the Meghalaya Economic Development Council (MEDC) with a Chairman along with Co-Chairmen and Vice –Chairmen, who are affiliated or office bearers of the Political parties in power.
Some of the important functions of MEDC are to (i) advice the State Government on issues relating to or touching upon the industrial and economic policies; (ii) identify sectors where overall economic and industrial growth can be created and accelerated; (iii) suggest ways for attracting investments, local and foreign, in the State.
However, as per RTI replies received from the Planning Department it is shocking to learn that the expenses towards the staffs and other perks and facilities provided to 4 appointees who had made claims till date under the Council is Rs 1,55,02,266.
The HYC alleged that the Council did not sit even for a single Meeting or provided any advice, suggestions or carry out any of its functions as mandated upon it during this period of Five Years.
The Chairman, Co-chairman and Vice-Chairman have only drawn the funds from the State’s coffers without any productive contribution towards the State and the people in general.
Another body constituted by the Government in the period from 2018 till 2023 is known as Meghalaya Resource and Employment Generation Council (MREGC) with the objectives to identify skills in demand from Growth of Economic activities in the State both in technical and non-technical spheres and to assess investments and requirements for developing such skills among the people.
To assess prospects for generation of employment in the State in the relevant sectors and identify activities which may have high employment potential besides others functions.
However, inspite of spending Rs 2,87,18,941/- (Two Crore Eighty Seven lakhs Eighteen Thousands Nine Hundred Fourty One)during the period, the Council did not sit for any meetings or provided any advice, suggestions or carried out any of the functions as mandated upon it but the Chairman, Co-Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and other non-official political appointee members have only unashamedly fleeced the State’s funds.
As can be seen from above, an amount of Rs 4,42,21,207 /- (Four crore fourty Two lakhs Twenty One thousands Two Hundred and seven) is being spent on these two Councils constituted by the Government without any contribution or positive results but has only made us poorer as the State.
These Two Councils are only under the Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya which we have informations for now but there are some more under the different Departments which are yet to get specific informations but we are sure they are also unproductive and have only fleeced us the people in the last Five years.
The HYC demand that the Chief Minister of the State to take corrective actions to minimize the unnecessary expenses on these types of Committees, Commissions, Councils, etc which does not provide any productive contributions to the Government or the state as a whole.
Payment of any types of remuneration should be given only after taking into consideration of the contribution made by these Bodies and the practice of providing facilities like House rent, electricity bills, conveyance, furnishing of house, etc.
The HYC said that this should be stopped forthwith as these bodies are not permanent and does not even have their permanent offices. Engagement of Staffs to various appointees should also be kept in abeyance till such time the Government come up with a concrete policy on the working of these bodies.
The Organisation will write to the Chief Minister in the coming days with demands and suggestions and if the Chief Minister or the Government does not take necessary steps, then we will be forced to take recourse to legal remedies to take actions against the Government for wastage of public money.
