By Our Special Correspondent
Shillong: While the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma could not hide his enthusiasm about the pre-budget exercise and his senior team members, Deputy CM, BM Lanong and Education Minister RC Laloo shared the dias with him, the Chairman State Planning Board, Dr Don Kupar Roy was conspicuous by his absence from the first of its kind pre-budget exercise.
Another notable absentee VIP is Mr J D Rymbai, who heads the Meghalaya Economic Development Council (MEDC).
In states like Goa and Maharashtra the MEDC plays a crucial role in providing tactical directions to the Government on key economic issues.
The State Planning Board’s role is to vet the plans and proposals that should emerge right from the district levels and to see that budget allocations for the plans are realistic.
But the absence of the most important member of the Board and his Deputy John Kharshiing from a meeting considered necessary for the state as it enters into the first phase of the 12th Plan sends a signal that those in the Government are themselves least bothered about such exercises. Attempts to contact Dr Don Kupar Roy failed.
The Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya Mr DD Lapang was also absent. So too the Chairman, Employment Generation Council! These are public institutions created to facilitate the growth and progress of the state and not merely to accommodate non-ministers so they can enjoy the pay and perks of office.
Toki Blah, one of the architects of the MEDC says the institution should be disbanded as it has failed to deliver on the objectives for which it was created. The MEDC was created by an act of the Assembly in 1992 to bring convergence between some of the strategic departments of the government and to get a political consensus on economic issues, so that schemes do not change with every change of government. Eight ministers, including the chief minister were present and only seven MLAs attended the pre-budget exercise. But several civil society groups and representatives of educational institutions took advantage of the Government’s attempts at participatory governance and gave their considered opinions about budget allocations in several important sectors of development.
Roll Call: Ministers present: Dr Mukul Sangma, BM Lanong, Dr RC Laloo, Ampareen Lyngdoh, AL Hek, AT Mondal, P Tynsong, and Shitlang Pale
MLAs present: Founder S Cajee, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Dr PW Khongjee, Metbah Lyngdoh, .Ardent Basaiawmoit, Dr Adviser Pariong and Hoping Stone Lyngdoh.