Despite the State facing a debt trap, the MDA-2 government seems hell bent on appointing as many political appointees as it can.
After appointing several MLAs of the ruling alliance as chairmen, co-chairmen and advisers of many boards and corporations, the government is also appointing former legislators just because they belong to the NPP.
In the latest case, former Mylliem MLA Hamletson Dohling was appointed as the adviser to the Chief Minister with perks and facilities under Category ‘A+’, which should make his sinecure even more comfortable.
Under Category ‘A+’, a political appointee enjoys honorarium of Rs 20,000 per month, hospitality of Rs 8,500, house rent of Rs 20,000 per month, free medical benefit, requisition of vehicle of Rs 600 per day, electricity charges of Rs 5,000 per month, conveyance allowance against allotted car with 250 litres petrol per month and 4 litres of engine oil. The appointee in this category also gets Rs 2 lakh as one time assistance for house furnishing besides maintenance of furniture at Rs 40,000 per annum. Other facilities include one telephone in the office and another at the residence.
Dohling won the Mylliem seat in 2018 in his first foray into electoral politics and was made a cabinet minister but he could only finish third at the recent election.
