SHILLONG, Feb 23: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma has justified the appointment of former Director-General of Police (DGP), R Chandranathan as the Security Advisor to the state government for one year.
“It is important to have a key person in a location like Delhi who would be able to coordinate with MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) and Government of India as a whole from the security aspect”, Sangma told reporters on Wednesday.
He said the state government is working on multiple fronts and it is not easy for it to get people who understand and are able to contribute to the system.
It is easy to criticise the government’s decision by alleging it is giving a retirement post to a former DGP, he said.
“But one has to realize we also get benefit. We get a lot of coordination with the Centre in terms of different programmes, schemes and situations that we face”, the chief minister said.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong had also defended the decision on Chandranathan’s appointment.
“The retired DGP’s assignment is to follow up proposals in Delhi. We are not wasting money”, Tynsong had said reacting to the Voice of the People Party’s charge that the government was on a political appointment spree despite facing a serious financial problem.
Chandranathan will draw a monthly salary of Rs 75,000 along with perks and facilities.
Medical skill development centre in state
The CM said the Government of India has decided to set up a “Medical Skill Development Centre” in the state. It will be funded by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Sangma said it will be a massive “hunar hub” project, to be set up at a cost of over Rs 250 crore.
According to him, the development centre will be one-of-its-kind in the country to conduct training programmes for individuals from medical and paramedical profession.
Sangma revealed Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had told him Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet were happy when they heard about the project.
“It is a pilot project and if it goes well then it may expand to other states also,” the CM said.
Earlier, he had tweeted to thank the Minister for Minority Affairs for accepting the proposal to set up the centre in the state.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had planned to establish 140 Skill Centres in government medical colleges across the country to impart skills on life-saving intervention. They will be established under the Central Sector Scheme, Human Resource Development for Emergency Medical Services.
The scheme will be fully funded by the Centre. Funds of Rs 2.60 crore to Rs 2.90 crore (depending on the location) are released to the government medical colleges/institutions subject to their recommendation by the state government concerned.
The funds allocated are for infrastructure development and procurement of training equipment.