TURA: Elections have come and parties like the Congress, the NPP and the BJP are upping the ante with high-pitched decibels. Development, whether real or imaginary, seems to be the politicians’ sole lexicon.
But if one is to question the political parties or their shenanigans about things a little messy in nature, then they seem to suffer from collective amnesia.
Mention the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and all parties suddenly disappear. The plight of the council employees finds no mention in any poll rhetoric.
Hundreds of employees of the GHADC, the oldest autonomous body in the Garo Hills region, have not been paid their monthly salaries for over 12 months. The small financial dole-outs once in a blue moon have only compounded the problem as the council debt rises every time its administration defaults in clearing the monthly dues of its staff.
The rupees hundred crores one-time financial assistance package released by the Narendra Modi government to the GHADC two years ago has literally gone up in smoke as the then Council Executive Committee headed by the NPP took up one scheme after another but failed to look into the plight of its staff.
The next EC backed by the Congress and headed by rebel NPP MDC Boston Marak promised much but gave little. The CEM was accused by the opposition NPP of withdrawing Rs 28 crore, sanctioned by the Tribal Affairs Ministry, without following proper channel.
What is ironical is that though the GHADC is facing a colossal financial crisis to pay its employees who languish in despair, the elected members (MDCs) continue to play fiddle and have jumped into the electoral battle hoping it will pay rich dividends.
There are as many as 13 sitting MDCs, including CEM Boston Marak, who are fighting the assembly elections in the Garo Hills.
Boston is contesting from Salmanpara on a Garo National Council (GNC) ticket, while chairperson of the GHADC Sadhiarani Sangma is the Congress candidate in Gambegre Assembly constituency.
Others who are also trying their political luck to enter the state assembly are Augustine Marak (GNC) in Rongara-Siju seat, Sengnal N Sangma (NPP) in Baghmara, Kurosh Marak (BJP) in Dalu, Jimbert Goera R Marak (GNC) in Gambegre, Mark Goera B Marak (Independent) and SG Esmatur Mominin (NPP) in Phulbari, Benedict Marak (NPP) in Raksamgre, Ismail Marak (Congress) in Dadenggre, Deputy Chairman of GHADC Mettrinson Momin (Independent) in Rongjeng, Sofiur Rahman (BJP) in Rajabala and Rupert M Sangma (Independent) in North Tura constituency.
The one question in the minds of the unpaid workers is not about which member finds a berth in the state assembly but rather who will bell the cat and bail them out in these trying times.
