By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 8: MDA’s Rajya Sabha nominee James P.K. Sangma on Monday asserted that his election to the Upper House of Parliament would not prevent him from continuing as president of the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA).
Responding to queries after filing his nomination papers, Sangma said existing legal provisions permit elected representatives to hold executive positions in sports bodies.
He said the law, including provisions arising from the Lodha Committee reforms and Supreme Court guidelines, allows MLAs and MPs to occupy executive posts in sports associations, though ministers and government servants are barred from doing so.
On the issue of MCA support and administrative staff allegedly not receiving salaries for the past six months, Sangma acknowledged that the association was facing challenges but described them as long-standing legacy issues.
He said certain administrative processes had stalled because of these problems, but efforts were being made to resolve the situation at the earliest. He also expressed concern for both office and support staff and said the association was working towards addressing the salary issue. Sangma further admitted that the MCA lacked an Internal Complaints Committee, a mandatory requirement under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) framework.
He said the issue would be taken up immediately, adding that the association was awaiting a report from the Meghalaya State Commission for Women before taking appropriate action.
Highlighting steps taken since assuming office as MCA president in January, Sangma said one of his first decisions was to appoint an ombudsman, a position that had remained vacant for nearly two years.
He said addressing institutional gaps within the association remained a priority and assured that necessary measures would be taken to strengthen its governance structure.
