Despite Meghalaya being a poor State financially, the MDA government continues to waste public money by making political appointments.
The latest to be appointed are former MLAs belonging to UDP and NPP, the two parties that are part of the MDA government. The notification regarding their appointment was issued in October 2023.
Former Sohra MLA Titos Chyne of UDP was appointed as vice chairman of State Development Reforms Commission with perks and facilities under Category A.
Former Mawkynrew MLA, Remington Pyngrope of UDP was appointed as deputy chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board with perks and facilities under Category A.
Former MLA of Rambrai-Jyrngam, Kimfa S. Marbaniang of NPP was appointed as co-chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board with perks and facilities under Category A.
Former MLA of Sutnga-Saipung, Hopeful Bamon of NPP was appointed as deputy chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board with perks and facilities under Category A.
It may be mentioned that the Voice of the People Party (VPP) had written to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma urging him to remove all chairmen, co-chairmen, vice chairmen etc of various boards, commissions and government corporations of the government.
In the letter to the chief minister yesterday, VPP general secretary Ricky A J Syngkon said that these political appointees of the MDA government serve no public purpose except indulgence in unnecessary drainage and wastage of public resources.
It may be mentioned that hundreds of members of the NPP, UDP, HSPDP and BJP have been appointed as chairmen, co-chairmen, vice chairmen, deputy chairmen and advisers in various boards, commissions and corporations of the State government.
While a number of the appointees were defeated politicians, others are closely linked to the parties in the MDA government.
Each of the appointees is entitled to perks and facilities amounting to nearly Rs 1 lakh per month.
Meanwhile, four retired IAS officers have been appointed in various boards and councils under the Planning, Investment Promotion and Sustainable Development Department.
Prashant Naik has been appointed as senior advisor for Sustainable Mobility under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP) for a period up to May 25, 2024.
Pochister Kharkongor has been appointed as senior advisor for Agro-Logistics under the MITP for a period up to June 30, 2024.
Hector Marwein has been appointed as chairman of Meghalaya Sustainable Development Council for a period up to February 18, 2026.
Ram Mohan Mishra has been appointed as executive chairman of Meghalaya State Investment Promotion Board for a period up to June 30, 2026.
