By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Megha-laya State Planning Board has sought more power for effective planning of schemes and policies for Government.
The reconstituted Board had its first meeting on Thursday under the chairmanship of former Chief Minister SC Marak.
Marak admitted that the Board should be strengthened with more powers for its effective functioning.
According to him, the Board has no special powers as it is neither a statutory body nor it has any special mandate. He said the Board only acts as an advisory body to give certain recommendations to the Government on matters related to planning.
There is criticism that even after 40 years the Board has not lived up to its expectations and it has only become ‘a rehabilitation center for defeated politicians’ of the ruling coalition. Reacting to this, Marak said that it was nothing new to hear that the Board is a rehabilitation center for former legislators as similar criticism was raised in the past too. He also pointed out that various political parties in the past had also done the same. The Government has appointed only chairman, co-chairpersons and deputy chairpersons to the Board and the members are yet to be appointed.Pending the formation of the full Board, the meeting decided to constitute eight working groups to deal with the different departments of the Government.While one of the working groups will be headed by the chairman, others will be supervised by co chairpersons and deputy chairpersons. The re constituted board has Marak as chairman, and John F Kharshiing, Adolf Lu Hitler R Marak, Lahkmen Rymbui, Shitlang Pale, Fersen C. Momin, Dr Adviser Pariong and Francis PR Sangma as co-chairpersons. Polycarp K Marak, Manas Das Gupta, Grithalson Arengh and , Eureka Lyngdoh are deputy chairpersons of the Board.