SHILLONG, Sep 29: NPP leader and Cabinet Minister Rakkam A Sangma raised concerns about the recurring issue of inadequate finances in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and called for immediate reforms to prevent a decline in trust from the Government of India.
The employees of the GHADC have been suffering due to pending salaries, which have now accumulated to as many as 30 months and continue to grow.
Sangma noted that the problem is not tied to any particular political party. He explained that the issue persists regardless of which party is in power, as it is a systemic problem.
He reminded that, despite various efforts by the government to clear the backlog of pending salaries left by the Congress regime, financial instability still persists.
Advocating for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, Sangma questioned the balance between revenue and expenditure, emphasizing that the council’s income and expenditure must be aligned. He also attributed the imbalance to the excessive number of employees appointed to the Council.
Regarding the proposed 125th Constitutional Amendment, Sangma said that if the amendment had been introduced earlier, the situation might have been different, as he acknowledged its potential to secure more funds for the Council.
It may me recalled that earlier, a three-member committee led by Union Minister Nityanand Rai was formed to address concerns raised by various Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). The committee was established following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and has been tasked with submitting a report to the Centre.
