By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Shillong Municipal Employees’ Association (SMEA) has refuted the statement of Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh that the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) is overstaffed.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, SMEA secretary Paul Marwein said that the current strength of the employees is 567 which include 316 regular employees while 251 are contractual staff.
“The actual fact is that the SMB is overburdened due to shortage of employees as basic service is being provided to more than 3 lakh residents of the city,” the statement said.
The SMEA also lambasted Ampareen’s statement that the SMB was forced to borrow money from MUDA to pay the salaries of its employees.
“The Minister is in charge of both Urban Affairs and Municipal Affairs but it seems that she is favouring MUDA and treating the SMB as a step child or an unwanted child,” the statement added.
The SMEA also questioned how the Minister is able to arrange surplus money for MUDA but is not able to get any funds for the municipal board.