Full implementation of Agreed Text sought
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 19: GHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) Nikman Marak has welcomed the state government’s decision to address the long-standing salary issue of district council employees and urged that the total implementation of the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS), a tripartite agreement between the Centre, the state and the two ANVC groups that was signed as early as 2014.
Marak said the resolution of the salary problem brings relief to the GHADC, which had been unable to concentrate fully on smooth administration due to ongoing financial constraints. He noted that the move allows the Council to refocus on governance and development activities that were previously hampered.
This comes at a time when the state government has released a total of ₹79.5 crore to the GHADC, enabling it to clear pending salaries of its employees.
He explained that the step aligns with the “Agreed Text for Settlement,” signed before the ANVC’s mainstreaming, which clearly stated in paragraph three that the state government would pay salaries to district council employees.
While appreciating the partial implementation, Marak emphasised that the state must now ensure the agreement is fulfilled in its entirety, as it was a commitment jointly made by the Centre, the State, and the ANVC.
Marak also highlighted the unique administrative setup in Meghalaya, where the state government and district councils’ jurisdictions often overlap, unlike in Assam, where councils have separate territories. In Meghalaya, except for specific zones such as Police Bazar and the cantonment area, the GHADC, KHADC, and JHADC operate alongside the State administration.
He pointed out that the ANVC had originally agreed to empower the autonomous councils and provide them the authority they deserve, and this empowerment should now be fully realised. The Deputy CEM further recalled that the previous Executive Committee had appointed around 1,000 employees within months, anticipating strengthened influence and capacity of the district council, which was made possible only because the settlement had envisaged full State support.
Marak emphasised that full implementation of the agreement will not only stabilise finances for the GHADC but also reinforce the autonomy and functional strength of all three district councils in Meghalaya.
