SHILLONG, MAR 4: Ignored by the 14th Finance Commission for fund allocation, the Congress led People’s Democratic Forum (PDF), an opposition alliance in the KHADC, has demand that the All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) executive committee call all the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) of north eastern states to put pressure on the union government for fund allocation from the consolidated funds in accordance with Article 275 (1) as the 14th Finance Commission had ignored them.
PDF chairman Pynshngainlang N Syiem told reporters on Wednesday. “We demand the ARPA led EC to immediately convene a meeting of all the ADCs of the NE states to put pressure on the centre and state governments to allocate funds to the ADCs from the centre’s consolidated funds which is as per Article 275 (1),”
Syiem said such demand is based on the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission which urged the “Union Government to consider a larger, sustained and more effective direct intervention for the upgradation of administration as well as development of the areas covered under the proviso to Article 275 (1) and excluded from the consideration of Finance Commissions in the ToR, in order to bring such areas on par with other areas.”
The decision to put pressure came after the 14th Finance Commission ignored the autonomous district councils for fund allocation.
“The zero recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission for the ADCs is a matter of serious concern,” Syiem said adding “This will affect the functioning of the ADCs and the MDCs as there are no funds for extending developmental programmes in their respective jurisdictions in the remaining four years term.”
In the recommendation made by the 13th Finance Commission, the centre had allocated Rs 432 crores for all the three ADCs – Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Syiem said the previous executive committee (EC) led by Khasi Hills United Democratic Alliance (KHUDA) under his leadership had submitted a Rs 200 crores memorandum for consideration of the 14th Finance Commission.
Syiem, however, lamented that there was no follow up by the present ARPA EC even after one year of its rule to no push on the matter and now there has been zero recommendation by the 14th Finance Commission. He accused the inability and irresponsible attitude of the ARPA led EC which he said has spoil the 4 years careers of all the MDCs of the council.
Syiem said the present EC should have conducted a follow up on the matter to prevent such unfortunate situation. He felt this will not only affect the functioning of the KHADC but will also affect staffs salaries and the different traditional institutions in term of developmental schemes.
“This is a matter of life and death of the Council which the ARPA appears to be not alive to,” Syiem said adding that is why the PDF will pressurize the ARPA to immediately take steps for arranging a delegation to go to Delhi at the earliest.
Syiem also warned that if the ARPA EC led by Adelbert Nongrum fails to take up the matter at earliest possible, the PDF would have no other option but to submit a separate memorandum to the centre in Delhi on its own.
Syiem also challenged the ruling ARPA to handover the chance to take over the executive committee by the PDF to resolve the issue. He said, “Give us a chance for one month to prove our capability. If we are not capable, we will without doubt give back the responsibility to the ARPA.”
Syiem said the ARPA is now in a minority in the house with only 14 (without counting the Council’s Chairperson) and the opposition alliance is 15. “If they (ARPA) are 14 in the eyes of the people, it should take responsibility of stepping down and allow the alliance with majority to take over,” he added.- By Our Reporter
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