By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 26: The state cabinet has approved the government’s proposal to take over the salary burden of the three autonomous district councils, but with a clear condition that such support must be tied to financial reforms.
At the same time, the government has underlined that the scheme will remain optional, leaving each council free to either accept the aid or refuse it altogether.
While there was general relief and words of praise, as in most moves, this decision is not without its share of resentment.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma explained that the move stemmed from the worsening financial situation in the ADCs, which has affected their functioning.
To take the process forward, three sub-committees will be set up to hold consultations with the councils in the next 45 days, after which the government will decide on the final framework, he said.
Sangma said the government recognised that the councils were vital to the state’s traditions and institutions and were empowered by the Constitution and Parliament, which made it necessary for the state government to step in and provide support.
However, he reiterated that no council would be compelled to accept the assistance, and that the choice to work with the state government rested entirely with them.
He stressed that the option was being offered to help those councils that are struggling with financial stress, while ensuring that their independence and prerogatives are not compromised.
He also made it clear that the support would not be unconditional.
Any help, especially for salaries, would require councils to put in place reforms such as stricter service rules and the appointment of a principal secretary from the IAS or a senior MCS officer to oversee financial administration. The intent, he explained, was to ensure that funds were used solely for their purpose and that the councils achieved long-term fiscal stability.
The Chief Minister assured that these measures would apply only to financial management and would not touch upon matters of land, customs, or traditional powers, which remain the exclusive domain of the councils.
He said there was no question of the government interfering in those areas, as the aim was purely to strengthen the financial backbone of the institutions.
Resentment against move
The government’s decision to take over the salary burden of the three ADCs has received mixed reactions. While the KHADC has decided to closely examine the proposal before making any official comment, political and civil society groups, including the HSPDP, HYC, and FKJGP Garo Hills Zone, have raised concerns about the implications of the move.
KHADC Chief Executive Member Shemborlang Rynjah said he would refrain from commenting until he has a complete understanding of the government’s proposal.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang expressed apprehension that allowing the state government to pay council employees’ salaries could undermine the autonomy guaranteed to the ADCs under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem went further, accusing the government of using the move for political gain, especially with GHADC elections expected early next year.
He pointed out that ADCs have their own revenue streams, including taxes, royalties, and transport fees audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and are expected to manage their own finances.
Synrem warned that the state’s involvement could lead to council employees being answerable to the government rather than the councils.
FKJGP Garo Hills Zone president Pritam Arengh echoed similar concerns, stating that while the government may have good intentions, the move could weaken the councils’ autonomy.
He linked the move to the broader context of the pending 125th Amendment Bill, which proposes greater autonomy for ADCs, including the direct routing of central schemes such as MGNREGS through them.
Arengh warned that the state government has already taken over some subjects originally under the councils, such as primary education and sanitation, and this latest development could be another step in that direction.