SHILLONG: A conglomeration of NGOs from North Garo Hills has called upon the state government to manage the affairs of the district besides demanding for the immediate transfer of the incumbent Deputy Commissioner SC Sadhu from the district.
In a letter to the chief secretary, the conglomeration said that while the neighbouring districts are trying its level best to alleviate and relieve the prices of basic commodities, no such effort is being made by district officials in the district.
The NGOs alleged one or two businessmen who own business houses in Mendipathar and Assam have monopolised the whole chain of supply of rice, grain and other essentials in the district as well as in some parts of Garo Hills.
“When the State Minister of Food & Civil Supplies had given full freedom to authorise and issue the fair price and retail shops to procure these essentials, why has the deputy commissioner issued licences and allowed the authorisation to procure rice, grains and other essentials to these one or two people,” the NGOs said.
The NGOs also alleged that just before the lockdown was announced, the DC had granted leave to the Superintendent of Supply and the Senior Supply Inspector of the Supply department and since then, there is no senior supply official to handle affairs pertaining to supply department.
They also added that there District Administration has failed to communicate and coordinate amongst various society leaders, church leaders, community leaders, NGOs and civil societies to properly monitor and ease and alleviate the hardship amid the lockdown.
“The restrictions in the movement of vehicles without passes and the denial for application have caused a major problem for medical patients who are undergoing medications and treatments outside the district as North Garo Hills does not have a single Civil Hospital yet in the entire district,” said the letter to the Chief Secretary, seeking a probe against the DC.
When contacted, SC Sadhu said that these are baseless allegations and anybody can make allegations without any proof. He also said that the group of NGOs may have an ulterior motive behind the allegations.
The deputy commissioner also said that such allegations may have erupted after he rejected the request of a person from AYWO, who had asked from him to allow him to collect money for the construction of a building.
“The gentleman wanted me to allow him to collect money for the building in such pandemic situation which I rejected outright, and their allegations may be a result of the refusal from my side,” Sandhu said.
