Gambegre MLA meets Guv on poor work culture
SHILLONG: Independent legislator Saleng A Sangma has lodged a complaint with Governor K K Paul against “absentee Chief Minister” Mukul Sangma, for paralysing the government functioning with his truant behaviour.
In a letter submitted to the Governor after meeting him at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, Saleng expressed concern over the overall failure of Governance since the Chief Minister is not in station on several occasions.
“Ever since Mukul Sangma took over as the Chief Minister of our state in April 2010, it has been observed that the CM’s office is one of the least functioning offices in Meghalaya courtesy the regular absence of the occupant of the high office,” Saleng, a former minister, said in the letter.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am being forced to write this letter to you after having observed the nonchalant attitude of the Chief Minister, which has undoubtedly affected the work culture in the State”, Saleng said.
Saleng, who represents Gambegre constituency in the State Assembly, appraised the Governor about “the unhealthy work culture practised by the Chief Minister in running the government”. “This unhealthy work culture is occurring amid the prevailing turmoil and the fragile law and order situation in the Garo Hills region and it is affecting people mostly from the rural areas of the State,” he said.
“The Chief Minister, in particular, is in-charge of several significant portfolios, which are directly linked with the functioning of other departments being held by other ministers in the cabinet”, Saleng said. Portfolios like agriculture, horticulture, mining and geology, commerce and industries, finance, planning, tourism, taxation are under the Chief Minister. Besides, he is also the overall in-charge of the Government, Saleng pointed out.
“If the head of the government continues to play truant, it would not be difficult to imagine the state of affairs and the work culture in the state secretariat and elsewhere”, he said, adding that other members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly would agree with him in this regard.
“Though there is no constitutional obligation for a Chief Minister to remain in office 24×7, the moral responsibility to discharge the duties of the high office and ensuring the smooth functioning of the government cannot be disregarded,” Saleng said in the letter.
