Under the newly-implemented Public Services Delivery Act 2020, government officials are permitted to take up to six months for matters pertaining to ration cards but only one month for granting a mining licence, a clear example that the Meghalaya government cares only for the rich while being heartless towards the poor, civil society group Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) said today.
In a press release, TUR described a government notification dated January 14 on the implementation of the act as “anti-people”.
As pointed out by TUR, matters pertaining to ration cards, which are meant for the poor, must be dealt with by the authorities within six months. This includes issuance of ration cards, correction/deletion of names, issuing duplicate cards or the transfer from one ration shop to another.
On the other hand, 15 days is the maximum that officials can take for the registration of IMFL products, seven days for import/export permits for liquor, seven days for a temporary bar licence and just three days for a transit permit for liquor. Decision on bar licences, meanwhile, should be taken within 30 days.
Another example provided by TUR is that it could take up to six months for permission for a film shoot but only 30 days for a mining licence.
The notification is also clear that the Labour Department can take a maximum of 10 days for the registration and licensing of contractors and employers but is silent on the time for the registration of trade unions. It is also mum on the time period in which students should be granted scholarships or workers their salaries.
“It is clear that this government is a government which only works for employers, miners and contractors and wants to make life difficult for the common citizens,” TUR said while appealing to the public to hold the government accountable by demanding amendments with proper consultation.
