SHILLONG: Members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) condemned Chief Secretary K.S Kropha for refusing to meet the delegation, which demanded the removal of the director of Sainik Welfare Board, on Wednesday.
The central executive council of HYC is against the reinstatement of the director as he has already attained the retirement age. Though the HYC members had an appointment with Kropha, they were denied an audience.
“We condemn the chief secretary and his office for the unethical and unprofessional nature,” HYC general secretary Robert June Kharjahrin said.
Speaking to reporters about the reappointment of Brig. W.J.B Sturgeon as the director of the board, Kharjahrin said, “We wanted to seek the chief secretary’s clarification as on what grounds the government reinstated him. We received information from reliable sources that the Director has been reappointed for a period of two years on contract basis despite having attained the retirement age of 60 years.”
Arguing that the reinstatement of Sturgeon is a contravention of the guidelines for the appointment of directors as issued by the Ministry of Defence, he said, “The State government should honour and respect the guideline by immediately removing Sturgeon and in the mean time to initiate proceeding to appoint a full-fledged Director of the Sainik Board.”
On the other hand, the South West Khasi Hills unit of HYC wished to apprise the Chief Secretary of the selling of AAY, PHH and non-PHH rice at the rate higher than the fixed price.
“The dealers and suppliers of ration rice like AAY, PHH and non-PHH rice sold the foodgrain at a higher price than the fixed Rs 3 for AAY and PPH rice and Rs 10 for non-PHH rice,” the HYC said. It added that the suppliers informed that they sold the rice at a higher rate as the government did not release the transportation, labour, storage costs etc.
