The Hynniewtrep Youths Council (HYC) has demanded the Meghalaya government constitute an independent commission that will investigate everything related to the funding constraints faced by the state government, including any misused funds.
HYC president, Robertjune Kharjahrin, said that the state government has, from time to time, levelled various taxes, cess, fees, etc but that the money collected from these have “disappeared”.
Funding constraints are a perennial theme of almost every Meghalaya government, with the current administration using this for all sorts of areas, such as pending salaries of teachers, etc.
“Where have all these collections disappeared? Have all the funds been wasted in paying the high salaries to the chairmen, co-chairmen, vice-chairmen, advisers and the members of various boards, committees, and commissions? Or have the funds evaporated in paying the black bills to contractors who never executed their work or funds wasted in various programmes that benefitted none but those in power?” Kharjahrin questioned.
He also blamed the constraint of funds on, what he said, is the leakage of revenue through illegal mining and transportation of coal and limestone, with no action taken against the offenders.
The pressure group leader said that it is high time that the legal institutions intervene in such matters and there is enhancement of vigilance right from the Dorbar Shnong to the state level.
Stating that it is high time that the state should also stop begging from the Centre for everything, including the payment of teacher salaries, he said, “Whatever is the right of the state, it should outrightly demand it from the central government but, at the same time, it should also have its own reserve funds.”
