SHILLONG, MAR 19: Opposition members today claimed that the Governor’s Address to the Assembly failed to speak about the intention of the present MDA government but instead highlighting the achievements of the previous Congress-led MUA government.
Participating in the debate on the governor’s address here on Monday, KHNAM legislator Adelbert Nongrum said, “The governor’s address speaks only about the achievement of the previous MUA government but do not speak anything clearly about the intention of the present government.”
Stating that it has also failed to mention the methodology to curb corruption, Nongrum, who debated in Khasi, said there was also no mention about how the government will tackle issue of influx of illegal immigrants and the unemployment problem in the state.
On the international border with Bangladesh, he demanded that the government should come up with a report and place it in the House since there was no mentioning in the address about the effect of land swapping.
Though the governor in his address has elaborated on the continuous effort by the government to solve the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam, Nongrum however alleged there was no serious effort on the part of the government to enter into a dialogue with Assam for proper demarcation of the border which is the need of the house.
Echoing similar concerns, opposition Congress MLA from Umroi George B Lyngdoh said that there is need for a timeline to be fixed for the completion of the dialogue between the two states, which has been happening for many years but with no solution at sight.
On the other hand, Congress legislator from Mawlai Process T Sawkmie said that the governor’s address reflects the “poor vision” of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Allliance government.
Stating that the NGT ban on coal mining has affected the economy of the state, Sawkmie said that the BJP leader and Union Minister of Coal Piyush Goyal had assured before the just concluded Assembly elections that they will solve the issue within 180 days.
“The NPP and the BJP are together and they are from same “pariwar” and with the chief minister who recently had taken a delegation of cabinet minister and met the Prime Minister, I look forward that he really means business. I suggest if he can also call upon Goyal who have assured to resolve the problem within 180 days,” he said.
Participating in the debate, Congress MLA from East Shillong Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the government if it is interested to resolve the issue, should start by providing rehabilitation package to the people affected by the ban on coal mining in the state.
Raising concern over the crimes against women and children, Lyngdoh said it was disheartening to observe a three-line commitment has been given on a Forensic Lab – likely a matter too serious to overlook, but a mere lip service approach on the matter.
According to her, the government should not only focus on sanction for procurement of equipment but it should ensure there is a sanction for recruitment of qualified personnel to use the already available equipment that has gathered dust due to unavailable of manpower.
“The government of the day has correctly headed the ‘right’ man, seasoned enough to handle the department and I look forward to action on the matters of a functioning and efficient forensic lab,” she said.
The Congress legislator further asked the government to create more posts of sub inspectors in every police state to combat the alarming and steady increase in the rates of crime against women in the state.
“I request the chief minister and his seasoned home minister to attend to this problem by reviewing all postings of women sub-inspectors and rearrange all their current duties and bring them closer to police stations to attend to crimes against women and children,” she said.
Lyngdoh was also of the opinion that more impetus should be placed on police stations taking all nececessary stepts to attend with all seriousness the role of the Khaki uniform in cases of crimes against women and children.
“In several reports received by me, by hearsay or personal involvement – Khaki men first like to play the role of peacemaker and counsellor to the extent of sometime ridiculting women who visit police stations, who by whatever feeling of desperation or oppression approached the PS in the first instance,” she said.
Expressing confidence that the government would amend a lot things, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Saleng A Sangma urged the state government to ensure that teachers do no skip their classes even though there is delay in the disbursement of their salaries
He also said that the job reservation for persons with disabilities should also be increased in the state.
Congress legislator from Nongpoh Mayralborn Syiem suggested the government to come up with a special assistance for unemployed youth besides setting up of trauma centres in every district headquarters especially where the national highways passes through.
He also urged the government to establish government colleges in all the districts of the state.
By Our Reporter
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