SHILLONG, Nov 10: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma denounced the MDA government for sketchy implementation of developmental schemes in the state.
“When the government changed in 2018 and the MDA government came to power, there were women-centric schemes and money allocated for them. The public neither received any benefit from that scheme nor was it implemented properly,” he said at a block-level meeting of the party on Thursday.
“We need to find the answer so that the money meant for the people and their families reaches them,” he said, questioning the expenditure from the money allocated for the Basin Development Scheme.
“During my time in the government, to ensure that each family has at least three income resources, we introduced the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion project. The FOCUS scheme is a part of the very same Basin Development scheme. The MDA initially demonised the IBDLP scheme, but to this date, the MDA does not have any scheme that does not have its roots in the IBDLP,” Sangma said.
“They are destroying the Basin Development Scheme we introduced. We will form the government after the 2023 elections and bring a change. The money which is supposed to reach the people shall be received by them,” he added.
Sangma said the MDA government is only doling out instalments unlike during his tenure.
Lashing out at the MDA for “ineptitude”, he said: “Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project made way for travel, business, and market linkage for the development of the agricultural sector. The project received funds of $120 billion from the World Bank, which the MDA claimed to have spent in two years. But there are no signs of development even after five years.”
He reminded the people of the financial assistance he provided as a Chief Minister. “I introduced women’s economic empowerment through the Financial Power by giving Rs 5,000 to women to open bank accounts,” he said.
“After coming to power in 2018, the government retracted the schemes. The money was still there, but the people could not take the benefits anymore. When we come to the government in 2023, we will ensure the distribution of funding to the people,” Sangma said.
“This is not a fight to be fought with weapons. This is a fight of ideologies. While the NPP-led MDA government chooses to focus on retaining power through shoddy schemes, the Meghalaya TMC pledges to stand by the people and fulfil their demands,” he said.
Taking a jibe at the ruling dispensation over its hypocritical stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the TMC’s Balachanda MDC, Agassi Marak said, “Before elections, the NPP vowed to reject the CAA. But after winning, Agatha Sangma favoured the same act in Parliament. We should reject such a party.”
The Meghalaya TMC leaders who attended the meeting included Mahila Wing president Selma D Shira, Rangsakona MLA Zenith M Sangma and GHADC members Nehru D Sangma and Rinaldo K Sangma.
