Social activist Egenstar Kurkalang has demanded an independent inquiry into alleged misappropriation of public money by government departments and violations of consumer rights.
In this respect Kurkalang today submitted a memorandum to the office of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Kurkalang has alleged that, as per an RTI request, the Principal Accountant General (Audit) Meghalaya’s reports for 2010-2020 revealed that the Government Printing Press and Stationery misappropriated a huge amount of public money amounting to the total amount of Rs 209.47 lakh.
He said that the misappropriation occurred through printing works supply entrusted by the National Health Mission, Directorate of Health Services that was outsourced to unqualified firms and individuals without floating tenders, without approved rates, etc.
He said that these irregularities have subsequently incurred losses to the government exchequer and disrupted the functioning of the government and affected the welfare and interest of the people and state.
Meanwhile, he claimed that food grains and food items, including livestock feed used by farmers, are incorrectly measured by traders in violation of the Consumer Protection Act 2019.
Before 2010, a 100kg bag or 50kg bag of rice would be measured by traders before delivery to the consumers and only charged as per the actual weight. This practice is no longer followed, Kurkalang said.
