By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum has favoured the need to downsize the number of Executive Members (EMs) in the Executive Committee (EC) in line with the Central and State Policy of 20 percent of the total strength of the House.
While moving a motion on this matter during the second day of the Budget Session on Wednesday, Nongrum said that the downsizing of the EMs of the EC would largely help in minimize the expenditures of the Council.
“We can always utilize the funds meant to be paid for the various perks and facilities of the EMs in other important activities of the Council like paying of the arrears and Dearness Allowance of the staffs,” KHNAM MDC said.
Stating that if at the State, they can bring down the number of Cabinet Ministers to only 12 out of the total strength of 60 Members House, he said that there would not be any problem to bring down the number of EMs from the existing 11 to only five or six in the Council which has total strength of 30 members.
“I want to make it clear that I have come up with this idea not because I am jealous of the MDCs who are in the ruling. My only concern in bringing this issue is to cut down expenses of the Council which is already facing the problem of funds constraints,” Nongrum said.
In reply, KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem said that it would be difficult for the Council to consider this proposal of downsizing the number of EMs in the EC at the present.
“As everyone is aware that it was only in 2010 that we increased the number of EMs from the 10 to 11,” Syiem said.