SHILLONG: The National Khasi Union (NKU) on Monday rubbished Finance department claim that there were no political appointees in the department at present.
Following an RTI filed by the NKU, Deputy Secretary, Finance department, ND Areng informed that the number of political appointees in the department is nil.
“We are surprised by this reply of the Deputy Secretary. It is not acceptable that there are no political appointees,” NKU general secretary Samborlang Diengdoh said while addressing newsmen here on Monday adding that the State has always been in the news for having the highest number of political appointees.
“The Government is spending huge amount of funds for the perks and packages of these political appointees instead of putting the money into developmental projects,” Diengdoh said while asserting that the Union would continue to pursue the matter.
‘Ghost chakki mills’
Another RTI filed by the Union on the Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS) revealed that there are a total of 49 chakki mills in the State.
As per RTI findings, 28 of the chakki mills are operational in Shillong while 12 others are based in Ri-Bhoi district. “Around 2269 metric tonnes of wheat is being allocated to the State per month, but none of the fair price shops are distributing it,” Diengdoh alleged.
This allotted wheat is meant to be ground in the chakki mills belonging to the stockists. But there are allegations that these chakki mills have either existed only on paper or have lain idle without having ground a single grain of wheat.
“Taking advantage of the fact that people in Meghalaya are not primarily consumers of wheat, the diversion of the item is easily carried out,” the NKU alleged.
The NKU general secretary also informed that the allotted quantum of BPL rice in the State is 39,480 quintals per month, AAY rice is 24,570 quintals per month and APL rice is 44,380 quintals per month.
