By Albert Thyrniang
The food grain ‘scam’ has ruffled the state. The seizure of one lakh bags of rice weighing 50 kg each by the Assam Police from a private godown in Chhaygoan, Boko meant for Meghalaya Social Welfare under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) has made local and national headlines. The potential multi-crore foodgrain scam has become the talk of the town. The Congress, the BJP in Tura and some local NGOs have demanded a probe into the alleged corruption in diversion of foodgrain meant for nutrition of the poor.
While the whole state is miffed by the sensational ‘catch’, the regional parties in the MDA government kept a staunch silence until the Opposition Congress forced an economical reaction from the BJP and the PDF. While the BJP said all partners in the coalition have discussed the issue, the PDF informed it took up the matter with Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma. The clarification, however, does not absolve the belated response. In the social media world of today why can’t political parties have official Twitter handles and Facebook accounts? What prevents the PDF from putting up a post, “Raises the seizure of rice in Assam with the CM”? Political parties in Meghalaya are at least ten years behind as far as social media is concerned. Any way the PDF response is rare and muted. Along with the HSPDP it hardly has an opinion on any issue in the state. They seem satisfied just to be in the chair.
The UDP going ‘missing’ is however startling. The major partner in the MDA coalition has been at the forefront in criticising its own government particularly on illegal coal mining and transportation and the MeECL affairs. The party led the way in ensuring the removal of James Sangma of the NPP as Home Minister. The leadership managed to convince the Chief Minister to nominate their man, Lahkmen Rymbui to replace his elder brother. But when even their own minister failed to curb the rampant illegal coal mining they continued to take on the government. The party leadership even tried to persuade the Chief Minister to strip James Sangma off the Power Ministry too. The failed attempted might have hurt their ego.
The alleged rice scam is related to the Social Welfare department. The Social Welfare minister is Kyrmen Shylla of the UDP. Is this the reason why the party is on prolonged silent mode? If the minister was from another party would the UDP be quiet? Would not the party ask for change of guard? Or has the party learned from past experiences? The party has been critical of the Government in spite of being part of it. It is a case of escaping responsibility for failures. It is an example of enjoying power while portraying to the public that the Party has no role in the government’s fiasco.
The Party might have realised that it cannot have it both ways. It might have recognized that it has to accept failures while being part of the Government. It might have understood that being part of a coalition explicitly implies collective responsibility. It might have sensed that people have detected its double standards. It might have made up its mind that it can’t choose successes and reject failures. But if this wisdom has sunk in the party, it has to acknowledge that in concrete terms. It can’t be saying nothing. It has to either deny the involvement of the Social Welfare Department like the Chief Minister did or express its openness for a credible investigation like their own minister did. The silence of the UDP is mysterious.
The Chief Minister has claimed that the seized rice is not linked to the public distribution system (PDS) in Meghalaya. Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong denies any knowledge of the re-packaging process of the ‘Meghalaya’ rice. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has washed its hand of the irregularity claiming that the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, had allocated 3098 MT Rice and 1094 MT wheat under the WBNP Scheme for Meghalaya State for the 1st quarter of the year during 2021-22 and orders were issued to lift the food grains on four instances in May and June 2021 from FSD Khanapara. Once the stock was transported FCI’s responsibility is over.
Meanwhile the Social Welfare Director insists that there has been no instance of non-supply of food items so far. Then how did the whole episode come about? Hopefully, the Assam Police will solve the case and unravel the whole saga. Time will tell whether the chain of events also lead to the neighbouring state.
But is the investigation by the Assam Police sufficient? Should our agencies not also get involved? The Government has so far shied away from any inquiry. But if investigation in Assam points to our state, the Government will have no choice but to order a full investigation. Even if the police probe in Assam finds Meghalaya ‘innocent’ should we rejoice? After all the foodgrains belong to Meghalaya!
Even if investigation is too early at this stage, should the Government avoid the media? On Friday last after its meeting, the entire Cabinet avoided facing the media. Even if repeatedly grilled by the ‘fourth estate’ on the issue should the government deviate from its practice of briefing the media after every Cabinet meeting? Should not the Chief Minister or the delegated Deputy Chief Minister answer questions? Was the ‘rice scam’ not in the agenda? But why was it not on the table? Is the issue unimportant not to be discussed? If all political parties have raised the issue was it not during the Cabinet meeting? Then why did Government not explain to the many waiting journalists who will in turn disseminate the Government’s statement to the public? Why should the Government maintain an unexplained silence?
It is too soon to jump the gun. But it does not mean the irregularities cannot occur in our state. We have no record to show that unethical happenings do not take place here. Ethical niceties are spoken of regularly. We often eulogise ourselves of being a righteous society (KaJait/Ri Tip Briew Tip Blei). We often proudly remind ourselvesthat that we earn our living through fair means (kamai da kahok). Christians have added values from the Holy Scriptures to supplement the ‘innate’ principles. But are we true to ourselves? The illegal coal business has been going on for at least six years. Since 2014 how many crores have been transacted illegally? Do we see righteousness in the lucrative trade? Do we even sympathise with the victims of mining tragedies? Have the ministers, the top government officials, the police been earning/amassing wealth the right way? The other beneficiaries are the next powerful people, the pressure groups. Except for a couple, no NGO has spoken against illegal mining. There is no mystery. We can be blunt. The NGOs have their own ‘check gates’. The leaders get a share of the clandestine cash.
The Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL)is dogged with allegations of corruption, scandals, favouritism and nepotism.Things have come to such a pass that no clean person can survive in this government enterprise. The ‘impeccable’ independent director, Lumlanglin Kharkongor had to quit in protest against questionable deals in the Power Corporation. The loss of ethics led to overpricing of computer related materials, furniture, installing and maintenance charges resulting in huge kickbacks.
The corruption charges in the ADCs particularly in the GHADC will soon be out of public memory. The party that ‘oversaw’ corruption in the ailing council and has allegedly made the most of the ‘central aid’ returned to power. Political parties and winning candidates who vigorously campaigned against the malpractices are now supporting the current dispensation. Individuals have benefited fraudulently. They may never face the law. Few will press for action.
The recent distasteful and derogatory remark against the East Khasi Hills DC, Isawanda Laloo on Facebook by a 38-year-old man is an indication of the loss of human values. We may vehemently oppose the order for mandatory vaccination against Covid-19 as a precondition for permission to reopen shops and plying of commercial vehicles. We may put our points of view strongly in social media but the vulgar and sexist comment is out of sync in a civilized world. We were all outraged. The police promptly arrested the offender.There are also secretive Facebook groups and posts which degrade, demean, shame and humiliate women, particularly those who date and marry non-Khasi men. One only wishes the police take equally speedy actions against those behind such posts as well.
The Government might think that the latest scam too will be swept under the carpet. Or else why it is refusing to answer questions? The government knows that the media will soon focus on other ‘upcoming’ issues. The Government is also aware that the public is largely indifferent to corruption, irregularities and illegalities. Signs are there that illegal coal mining, corruption in ADCs and MeECL will eventually pass by. The food grain ‘scam’ will be no different. Life will return to normal.
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