ADCs, govt brainstorm about ways to better manage local govt finance

SHILLONG, Aug 29: In a first-of-its-kind initiative to bring representatives of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and state government together in the midst of resource persons who are experts in their field to deliberate over the challenges of local government financing, a one-day State Conference was organised by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) in collaboration with the Department of Economics, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on the topic ‘Strengthening the Finances and Financial Accountability of Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya’ at the State Convention Centre here on Monday.
Minister in charge of District Council Affairs Lahkmen Rymbui was the chief guest of the programme while Chief Executive Member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Titosstarwell Chyne was the guest of honour.
In his address, Rymbui spoke about the advancement in technology and the new methods of accounting while emphasising that the accounting wing of the respective ADCs needs to be updated and upscaled to improve the accounting and auditing framework of the councils.
The objectives of the conference was to orient the representatives of the three ADCs, state government officials and representatives of local bodies of the state on measures undertaken by rural bodies to strengthen their finances as well as reforms in the accounting and auditing process and to also discuss the financial health and challenges of the ADCs and measures which are needed to improve the financial transparency and accountability of the Councils.
The resource persons for the conference included Prof VN Alok, IIPA New Delhi, Prof Sumarlin Umdor, Department of Economics, NEHU, and Tornado G Wanniang, Sr. Audit Officer & Core Faculty, Regional Training Institute (IA & AD), Shillong.