From Our Correspondent
JOWAI, Nov 24: The top leadership of the NPP has been asked by former CEM and four-time MDC, Madonbai Rymbai, to replace the current CEM, Thombor Shiwat, in order to bring back positive change and resolve the issue of pending salaries.
Speaking to the media on Sunday about the salary crisis faced by Council employees, now stretching to nine months, the Amwi Khliehtyrshi MDC said the party must choose a leader who has the knowledge and capability to run the Council with at least 90 percent efficiency, as was the case in earlier periods.
He said this in reference to the fact that the Council has three main organs—Executive, Legislative and Judiciary—similar to the Parliament, which is the highest institution in the country.
However, he cautioned the public against being misled, pointing out that Jaiñtia Hills is rich in mineral resources and that cement plants operate daily, producing cement and other materials. “Why then is the Council facing such a severe revenue shortage that salaries cannot be paid?” he questioned.
Rymbai added that the state government has already set up the District Council Affairs department, which oversees the financial share between the State and the Councils in ratios such as 60:40 or 75:25. If these mechanisms were properly implemented, he said, salary delays would not occur.
He further stated that based on the Council’s revenue calculations, taking GDP assessments into account, the Council earns around Rs 85 crore annually. With such revenue, salary delays should last only a month or two at most. Instead, the delay has now crossed nine months—something he attributed to the “incompetence” of the current CEM in managing the Council.
