By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: MPCC president, DD Lapang urged the State Government to ensure that the four newly created districts in the State achieve the status of full-fledged districts sooner than later.
Lapang was participating in the general discussion on the budget in the Assembly on Wednesday, where he, along with another former chief minister, Dr Donkupar Roy, raised many pertinent issues relating to the overall growth and development of the State.
“These newly created districts should get the full support of the Government to be able to give the people the desired services,” Lapang said.
“It is important that offices of all important departments should be in place in these new districts,” Lapang said while acknowledging that the State Government has a huge responsibility in meeting the financial requirements of the new districts.
The former Chief Minister also favoured the government’s proposal for creation of a separate women battalion.
“The battalion would be very useful in handling crime cases against women,” he said.
The former Chief Minister slammed the banks operating in the State for their ‘unfriendly attitude’ against the local people, especially villagers, who are keen to deposit their money there.
”It is because of this unfriendly attitude that the cash deposit (CD) ratio is low in the State,” he said adding that farmers who approach the banks for loan are being harassed.
“The bank employees would ask irrelevant questions to harass the farmers who are sanctioned the loans they desire. The government should take steps to check such practices,” he said.
“The banks have to change their attitude if their business has to grow in the State,” Lapang said.
Meanwhile, Dr Roy urged upon the government to consider the proposal of constructing national highways along the international border with Bangladesh.
“The government can construct a national highway along the international border to connect Baghmara, Shella and Dawki. This would give a huge boost to the economy of the State,” Dr Roy said while stressing on the need to build better roads in major commercial centres along the international border.
He expressed concern over the scarcity of medicinal plants while citing forest degradation as the main reason for it.
“The State is popular for medicinal plants and even has its own Meghalaya State Medicinal Board to look into the interest of the traditional practitioners”, he said ruing the fact that enough has not been done to make the local people and the practitioners familiar with the board.
Dr Roy also suggested setting up of restaurants with architectural designs at the main tourist spots of the state to attract more tourists which could boost the State’s exchequer.
The UDP leader also asked the government to consider setting up arts and culture auditoriums in all the sub-divisional headquarters. Talking about sericulture, Dr Roy said that the main problem lies in marketing, especially in the handloom sector.
“The government could give a boost to this sector by using the products produced by the local artisans at the various state departments,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UDP leader rued the fact that the soil and water conservation department has not been able to extend its reach to the rural areas and the loopholes lie in the implementation of works departmentally.
“To increase the coverage at the block level, the government should involve the MLAs, MDCs and local leaders in various programmes,” he suggested.