Issue shouldn’t be twisted into a game of political one-upmanship but should be seen as an opportunity to rectify failed policies and mechanisms
From Our Correspondent
TURA, Aug 11: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP), Garo Hills, has contended that the salary crisis in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) should not be twisted into a game of political one-upmanship but should be seen as an opportunity to rectify failed policies and mechanisms adopted by consecutive Executive Committees (ECs) of the GHADC and to introduce new measures to enhance transparency and accountability.
The reaction from the FKJGP comes days after Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma attributed the ongoing financial crisis in the GHADC, including the non-payment of salaries for the past 43 months, to mismanagement and irregular appointments made during the previous tenure of the Congress-led EC.
On Monday, the FKJGP expressed shock over the stand taken by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who distanced the state government from the GHADC salary crisis and failed to initiate steps to address what the organisation described as the root causes of the problem.
“We strongly opine that the matter should not be twisted into a game of political upmanship but rather should be considered as an opportunity to rectify the failed policies and mechanisms adopted by the consecutive ECs of the GHADC and to introduce new policies so as to enhance transparency and accountability in the functioning and conduct of the GHADC,” maintained FKJGP president Pritam Arengh.
He, however, acknowledged that improving the functioning of the GHADC was a “herculean task”, requiring the cooperation of all political parties, civil society organisations, prominent citizens and other stakeholders.
Arengh said the FKJGP would soon submit its suggestions to the GHADC Executive Committee, the Meghalaya government, all political parties, civil society organisations and concerned authorities.
“We, the FKJGP, Garo Hills Zone, see the problems of GHADC as sharing traits with the mythical Greek creature ‘Hydra’, which can only be overcome by combining strength with strategic thinking along with assistance from adversaries or allies alike,” Arengh observed.