‘Fund misuse derailed fiscal future of all councils in state’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 2: Leader of Opposition and TMC stalwart Mukul M Sangma has come down heavily on the NPP-led Executive Committee in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) over alleged misappropriation of Rs 100.71 crore from the Centre’s first-ever special assistance grant.
The alleged misuse of funds has cast a shadow over decentralised governance, with the Meghalaya Lokayukta loking into the case, he said on Saturday.
Sangma pointed out that fiscal indiscipline has derailed the financial future of all three autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the state.
“The unresolved controversy has diminished the credibility of the councils, stalling further support for them,” he said.
Sangma said the fund release was linked to a tripartite text settlement signed among the Government of India, the Meghalaya government, and the A’chik National Volunteer Council (B).
“The Centre had committed to taking necessary steps to amend relevant provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to give effect to the settlement’s mandate,” the former chief minister added.
Although the proposed constitutional amendments have yet to materialise, Sangma recalled how the then state government persuaded the Centre to provide direct financial support to the ADCs as a stop-gap measure.
“We were able to prevail upon the Government of India… and I must thank them for agreeing to provide this direct assistance to the ADCs,” he stated.
In 2015-2016, the Centre released unprecedented funds directly to the three ADCs—KHADC, JHADC, and GHADC. Of the total amount, GHADC received Rs 100.71 crore. “The money was released by our government without delay,” Sangma said, emphasising the significance of the move.
He stated that the fund’s intended purpose was derailed by allegations of financial mismanagement within the GHADC. “After this fund was released to the GHADC, there were allegations of misuse. These emerged from information obtained through RTI,” he said.
He stated that public concern led to formal complaints, and eventually, the Meghalaya Lokayukta took up the matter. “The case was taken up by the Lokayukta, but unfortunately, it is still pending,” Sangma said.
He expressed regret that the fiscal support, which could have strengthened grass-roots governance, became mired in controversy.
“Rather than utilising the fund to strengthen the ADCs and seeking more from the Centre, the council created a situation that questioned the intent of those responsible,” he said.
