SHILLONG: Sohra MLA Titos Chyne castigated the Government over the inability of the Meghalaya Houses in New Delhi and other metropolitan cities to provide accommodation to students from the State.
Moving a cut motion in the Assembly on Wednesday, Chyne lamented that students who visit the Meghalaya House are always told that accommodation is not available. He called on the Department to look into the matter.
The legislator also expressed concern over the fact that many contractual employees in the Meghalaya Houses, who are local people from the State, are getting salaries ranging from Rs 6,000-10,000.
He also demanded that the Sohra circuit house, which is one of the oldest guest houses in Meghalaya, be declared a heritage building and asked the Government to upgrade it in view of shortage of accommodation, by constructing a new circuit house adjacent to the existing one.
South Tura MLA John Leslee Sangma, while participating in the cut motion, pointed out that local delicacies, like dry fish, are not served in the Meghalaya Houses.
Replying to the queries, GAD Minister HDR Lyngdoh said that the Meghalaya Houses located in different cities provide great relief to patients since accommodation in the State guest house is provided at a nominal rate.
“Students are also provided counselling and logistical support for examinations and admissions there,” he said and added that Meghalaya Houses have acted as guardians whenever students face problem in metropolitan cities.
Denying that requests for accommodation are turned down by the Meghalaya Houses, Lyngdoh said authorities there on many occasions arrange accommodation for people in nearby lodges and guest houses when Meghalaya House remains packed with people.
On the demand for constructing new circuit houses in the State, he said the matter depends on the availability of fund and assured that he would examine whether local delicacies, including dry fish, are provided in the State guest houses in different cities.
