RESUBELPARA: A public meeting was called by the NGOs of North Garo Hills to discuss the plight of people who are yet to get the government relief after the 2014 flood.
There are also allegations that the tainted Agriculture official IB Talang who was arrested by the police for allegedly stealing agriculture materials had a role in siphoning off funds meant for the flood affected victims.
In this regard, a meeting was called by FAF leaders Braze Adoniza and Jagir M Sangma, and GSU leaders Takin N Arengh and Willness R Marak at the Resubelpara central community hall on Saturday.
The meeting was attended by the Nokmas, Sordars, Laskars, farmers and the senior citizens.
The agenda was to know the release of the relief and rehabilitation schemes sanctioned for flood damages in 2014 by the Central Government. The Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju had publicly announced that Rs 1000 crore was allotted to Garo Hills.
The plan was that different line departments like veterinary, weaving, horticulture, education, PWD, PHE, fishery, agriculture, will collect the statistical data and work on it.
“But though there were large scale damages to crops, plantations and livestock, there was no effort to sanction proper schemes to help the people in North Garo Hills”, the NGOs alleged.
Since the Chief Minister himself is holding many important portfolios, the people have decided to file RTI to seek information on the implementation of schemes in the aftermath of the flood.
Another allegation is that since the tainted IB Talang took over as District Agriculture Officer in 2013, the distribution of seeds like maize, potato, rice, mustard seeds, kitchen garden seeds, pesticides, insecticides, and machine tools were not monitored properly.
The pressure groups had alleged that most of the government properties were taken away by the official to his home town, Jowai.
The schemes to tide over the crisis due to damages to agriculture crops during the 2014 flood have not been implemented by the officer, according to the pressure groups.
There are allegations that the farmers are yet to get their benefits.
Another accusation is that utilization certificates, and beneficiaries’ signatures were faked.
Hence the people of North Garo Hills have decided to file RTI whether the signatories are genuine or not so that the verification can be conducted by the Government.
According to the NGOs, the Agriculture officer Talang should be suspended for the many lapses.
