NGEA seek Guv’s intervention over corruption in GHADC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 14, 2020

The Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has requested the Governor Satya Pal Malik to recommend for a CBI inquiry into the misuse of central funds by the Council.

In its memorandum submitted on Wednesday, the association has also sought the governor’s intervention into alleged harassment by the present secretary of the GHADC on the members for filing complaint on the death of 21 employees due to non-release of the salary.

“The NGEA vehemently appraised and pleaded with the Governor of Meghalaya to take up the matter with the central government to conduct a CBI inquiry into the corruption of central sponsored money by the GHADC,” president of the association, Senora Johny Arengh said.

According to him, the Finance Ministry/NITI Aayog has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 100.71 crore for 2015-16 besides Rs 48 crore, Rs 28 crore and Rs 24 crores on different occasions.

He however alleged these amounts were not properly implemented to develop the Sixth Schedule areas as the same had been misused and misappropriated by the elected members, secretary to the executive committee, principal secretary and officers of the GHADC.

He said due to rampant corruption by the authorities of GHADC, there has been no progress and no change in the scheduled areas in the field of development and uplifting the tribal areas.

Arengh further alleged that one of the reasons for the failure to clear the monthly salary to the employees of the GHADC for the past 3 years is not because of lack of funds but it is due to the malpractice and misuse of funds generated by the GHADC.

“In fact, GHADC have sufficient funds that they are receiving from the State, from minor and major sales but, these funds are not properly utilized by the authorities of GHADC,” he said.

The association has also expressed dismay to learn that the DCA minister is opposing the CBI inquiry.

“We expect the government and the minister to be responsible and we have high expectation that they will work to eradicate corruption for the interest of justice,” he said.

On the other hand, the association also alleged that the secretary to the executive committee, principal secretary of the GHADC has been issuing numerous show-cause notice and conducting an enquiry and suspending the President and other executive members of NGEA with a ulterior motive to harass and torture in a vindictive manner.

It further alleged that the move was to take revenge on the executive members for filing the various complaints in the Human Right Commission and for filing the Contempt Case in the High Court of Meghalaya.

“The NGEA has placed their grievances and submitted the memorandum with a prayer to interfere into the affairs of GHADC particularly to interfere for continuous harassment and torture made out to the Executive Member of NGEA,” Arengh said.

He said earlier the secretary had never raised an objection for the non-renewal of the society of NGEA.

“However, it was only after the NGEA has filed the Contempt Case No. 10 of 2020 and some complaint case in the Human Right for the death of 21 employees due to non-release of the salary, the Secretary to the Executive Committee and other officers, have been taking revenge and continuously harassing and torturing the members of NGEA by issuing various show-cause notices and directing to appear before the enquiry Officers taking the advantage on the non-renewal for the association of NGEA,” he said.

On the resolution adopted by the outgoing executive committee to take legal action against the NGEA, Arengh said, “Which law of the land bars the employees or NGEA from meeting the governor. By taking strong resolution against the NGEA, the EC of GHADC forgot that the governor is for all citizens of Meghalaya including the employees of GHADC and not only for the elected MDCs of GHADC.”

“We have met the governor to place our grievances with folding hands with expectation that our legal dues salary is released. Moreover, before approaching the high court and the governor, we had approached the CM and CEM begging them to release our monthly salary with tears in our eyes…imagine the misery of our family when our children and wife are crying for hungers no MDC had any remorse for us and when we approach the Governor and humbly pray to release our due salary, the EC of GHADC define it illegal and decided to take strong legal action against us. We want to ask the EC of GHADC if they were in our place, without payment of salary for many years, and if that would be the case, what will be their reaction?” he said.