Political appointments – A burden on state’s coffers
SHILLONG: The 15-month old Mukul Sangma led MUA-II government has appointed as many as 76 politicians mostly from Congress as per the updated list available with this paper till May this year.
Those who were appointed hold posts in various corporations and public sector undertakings (PSUs) which are often termed as ‘white elephants’ devoid of productive results.
The status, perks and facilities provided to these political appointees are equal to those availed by the cabinet ministers and ministers of state which runs into crores of rupees.
Till last year, there were only 42 political appointees, but the numbers shot up as Congress was compelled to please the party men and those supporting the Government.
There are many political appointees from Mahendraganj, the constituency of Dikkanchi D Shira, wife of the Chief Minister.
NCP and several independents are supporting the Congress-led coalition Government.
NCP member Wanbok S Lyngdoh was appointed Vice Chairman of Forest Development Corporation of Meghalaya Limited and former Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope from the Congress is its Chairman.
Another NCP member Constantine Thma was appointed Co-Chairman of Meghalaya State Development Reforms Commission. Congress functionaries Szarita Laitphlang and Nripendra Koch are vice chairpersons of the Reforms Commission.
While Independent legislator Hopeful Bamon, who is supporting the Government, is the Chairman of Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC), Congress member Sanjay Das is the Vice Chairman of MTC.
Like in the past, former Chief Minister DD Lapang is the Chief Advisor to Meghalaya Government.
Meghalaya State Planning Board headed by former chief minister SC Marak has the maximum political appointments. Marak gets perks and facilities almost equivalent to the Chief Minister.
The Co-Chairpersons of the Planning Board include former Congress legislators Shitlang Pale, Lahkmen Rymbui, Adolf Hitler R Marak, Adviser Pariong Francis Pondit R. Sangma and Fersen C. Momin. State Congress Vice President John Kharshiing is another Co-Chairperson of the Board.
The Deputy Chairpersons of the Planning Board are Congress members Manas Das Gupta, Polycarp Marak, Grithalson Arengh, Eureka Lyngdoh and Abdul Hussain Sarkar.
Sarkar had contested as Independent from Mahendraganj in 1993. While Congress legislator from Mawsynram, Pynshngaiñlang Syiem was appointed as the Chairman of the Meghalaya Economic Development Council, Selma D Shira (Congress member form Tura) is the Vice Chairperson of the Council.
The Meghalaya Resource and Employment Generation Council is headed by Congress legislator Dikkanchi D Shira as Chairperson and Co-Chairman, former DGP B.K Dey Sawian, and Vice Chairman, Manbor S Warjri, are Congress functionaries.
The State Level Public Grievance Committee is headed by a defeated politician K C Momin as its Chairman. Independent legislator Hopeful Bamon, who was made Chairman of Meghalaya Transport Corporation, is also the Co-Chairman of Grievance Committee.
Former legislators from the Congress Mukul Das, PW Muktieh and Congress member Mohendro Rapsang are other co-chairmen. The Vice Chairpersons of the Grievance Committee include former legislator Edward Kurbah, politicians Mazidur Rahman, CB Syiem, Grace Ch Sangma, Skor Jala and William Mynsong.
In Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation, Congress legislator MM Danggo is the Chairman and co-chairpersons are former Congress MLA PW Khongjee and fromer MLA from Mahendraganj Dhabal Ch Momin. Former legislators Ismail Marak and Abdus Saleh are other co-chairpersons of the Corporation, while youth congress president Gabriel Wahlang and Moses Ch Sangma (politician from Selsella) were appointed as Vice-Chairpersons.
Independent legislator David Nongrum who is supporting the Government was appointed as Chairman of Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation and the Vice Chairpersons are Septerwin R Sangma (Tura youth Congress President) and Florence T Sangma (Mahila Congress leader, South Garo Hills).
Congress legislator Kennethson R Marak was appointed as Chairman of Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation and the Vice Chairman is Sahidur Rahman who contested Assembly election from NCP in 2008 from Mahendraganj.
While Congress legislator Ronnie Lyngdoh is the Chairman of the Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Limited, the Vice Chairpersons are Lazarus M Sangma (Congress candidate from Baghmara who was defeated in 2013) and Chandan Miah hailing from Mahendraganj.
Independent legislator Julius Dorphang was appointed the Chairman of Meghalaya Khadi and Village Industries Board, the Vice Chairman is Richard Marak, general secretary, youth congress.
Ngaitlang Dhar is the Chairman of the Meghalaya Commission on Resource Mobilization while ex-MLAs Oris S Myriaw, Gopinath Sangma and Lambor Malngiang are co-chairmen and Binvichand D Sangma,Debendra Hajong and MG Kharshanlor are the vice-chairmen.
While OL Nongtdu, former Congress MP is the Chairman of Meghalaya Cherra Cement Limited, another Congress man James Lyngdoh is its vice chairperson.
Another political appointee is Congress member Arlene N Sangma, the chairperson of Meghalaya Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, and Mahila Congress leader M Ryngkhlem is its vice chairperson.
While Additional Advocate General of Meghalaya, BP Todi has been appointed as Chairman of the State Task Force for Resource Mobilization, Meghalaya State Commission for Women has Theilin Phanbuh as its Chairperson and Gamchi Timre R Marak as the vice chairperson.
Congress member AH Scott Lyngdoh is the Chairman of the Meghalaya State Law Commission and another Congress functionary Diverland Lyngdoh is its vice chairman.
Former Congress MP PR Kyndiah’s daughter Dayoophy K Kyndiah was appointed the vice chairperson of Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency and Congress member Gilbert Sten was appointed as vice-chairman of Meghalaya Fish Farmers Development Agency.
Other political appointees are Donbosh N Sangma, Chairman Tura Municipal Board, Aldrin D Sangma, Chairman, Resubelpara Municipal Board and Surosh R Marak, Chairman, Baghmara Municipal Board.
The Chief Minister during the just concluded re-assembled budget session had desperately defended the political appointments by saying that this will provide an opportunity to those who have just entered the political arena to familiarize themselves with the system of administration and governance. He had also said that politicians who head these bodies can interact with people at the grass root level.
He had also claimed that the Councils, Committees, Commissions and Boards among others provide a convenient forum for engaging policy makers, experts and other stakeholders to deliberate and exchange ideas and information of importance and come up with decisions or recommendations for the Government to implement.
However, in reality, these bodies hardly meet regularly. Moreover, they have not provided any value addition to the Government.