SHILLONG: Two pressure groups, the Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) and TUR, have criticised the Cabinet decision to increase the price limits for government vehicles with the former terming the move as “shocking” when the state exchequer is under stress.
The CSWO questioned the decision saying it came at a time when SSA teachers are not getting salary and police personnel posted in remote areas need more vehicles.
In reference to a media report, the CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing, in a statement issued on Thursday, said several beneficiaries of the government compensation scheme are not paid and in many cases “victims of rape are made to travel together with perpetrators in the same vehicle as both need to be taken for medical examination”.
“In fact, the government should sit to tighten the extravagant spending of public funds and seek for more accountability and transparency,” she added.
The CSWO questioned the government about the Meghalaya Ministers Allowances and Privileges Act, 1972, and urged the Finance Department and the Chief Secretary not to allow such decisions of the Cabinet which allow splurging of public funds.
The price limit for vehicles of the chief secretary, along with the deputy chief minister and Cabinet ministers, has been raised to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 15 lakh.
“It is always seen that politicians approach the public before elections to bring about the change but here they sit not for the problems faced by the common man but to think for themselves. This is sheer abuse of power and is unacceptable.
“This is not individual fund of the Cabinet but it is public money. This is giving room for corruption and capitalist policies,” pointed out CSWO.
The organisation suggested that politicians and VIPs should use public transport instead so that “they will notice” the pot holes and dilapidated roads.
The city roads are already congested and the chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues talk about easing traffic without sparing a thought about how they commute in their individual cars followed by a slew of police vehicles in the name of security. However, in the past some ministers had suggested walking as the solution to the traffic problem without setting a sustainable example.
TUR member Angela Rangad said the ministers, and even government officers should use public transport, which should be strengthened. Rangad said using public transport would save the city from traffic congestion. She added that though VIPs have removed red beacon but they continue to use sirens which amounts to abusing their power.
