Shillong, Aug 21: The conglomerate civil society organisations (CSOs) of Garo Hills have extended support to the Non-Gazetted Employees’ Association (NGEA) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in their protest for unpaid salaries.
The CSOs said the “chronic maladministration, financial recklessness, and a flagrant disregard for accountability” have eroded the district council. Stating that the Executive Committee (EC) led by Albinush Marak has met the employee’s legitimate demands with indifference and unbefitting statements, fostering a perception of callous leadership the organisations said even successive ECs have been mired in systemic corruption, marked by financial malfeasance, inordinate delays in salary disbursements, mismanagement of GHADC’s own funds, and nepotistic appointments.
The organisations urged the district council to take immediate and decisive intervention to restore accountability, disburse overdue salaries, framed Service and Finance Rules, digitalised all the transactions of GHADC, set up Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the council and prevent the institution’s collapse.
On the proposed handover of Tura Medical College and Hospital (TMCH) to private entities, the CSOs said it risks undermining accessibility, affordability, and the institution’s public-centric vision.
“The PPP model raises serious concerns about prioritizing profit over public welfare, potentially restricting access to affordable healthcare for marginalized communities,” the CSOs said.
The organisations demanded that the TMCH remain state-managed, with at least 85 per cent of seats reserved for local students, ensuring it fulfils its intended role as a public institution dedicated to transforming healthcare and education in Garo Hills. “Privatization risks commodifying essential services, where profit motives could exacerbate inequities and limit access for the poor,” they added.
Meanwhile, the CSOs comprising of the Achik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE) and Federation for A’chik Freedom (FAF) today launched a poster campaign across Garo Hills to oppose the PPP model for TMCH and highlight the GHADC crisis.
