SHILLONG, FEB 21: Jaintia hills based ngos and RTI activists have decided to seek the intervention of Meghalaya governor KK Paul with regard to the alleged “corruptions” in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and urged investigating authorities to speed up the process of inquiry and accordingly take action against JHADC chief executive member Madonbai Rymbai, who has been blamed for the scam.
The decision was taken at a public meeting organized jointly by the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) and Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) held in Jowai, West Jaintia hills district on Friday to show their displeasure against the misappropriation of funds by the JHADC CEM.
The ngos and the RTI activists have threatened to intensify the agitations if the authorities fails to take any action on the issue.
An RTI filed by one Arlin Dkhar from Khliehtyrshi village had exposed misappropriation of Rs 1.18 crore by the CEM of JHADC. According to the RTI reply, the Rs 1.18 crore which include Discretionary Grant of Rs 66 lakh and Gratuity Relief of 52.50 lakhs was released to the CEM during May – December 2013.
In another similar scam unearthed through RTI, three RTI activists from Khliehtyrshi filed an FIR against Rymbai for misappropriation of Rs 1.15 crore released by the state government for land acquisition for the implementation of the proposed Jowai bye pass and forgery of land documents belonging to the Lumpohsiej locality in Khliehtyrshi village.
“We would soon submit a petition to the Governor KK Paul urging for his intervention into the corrupt practices indulge in the JHADC,” JSU president Rikut N Parien said while speaking at the public meeting.
Urging the police to refrain from delaying the inquiry against the JHADC’s Chief Executive Member (CEM), Parien said that we would be compelled to launch agitation if corruption charges against the JHADC CEM are not investigated and action taken at the earliest.
According to Parien, corruption in JHADC is not only about misappropriation of public money but also there have been rampant backdoor appointments as well as favouritism and nepotism without adhering to the rules and procedures which is totally illegal and against the law.
Another speaker CH Passah said during the meeting that the Governor must be urged to institute an investigation into the scams and corruptions in the JHADC.
Echoing similar concerns, JYF president Poipynhun Majaw asked the public for their cooperation and support in fighting against corruption which has not only affected the JHADC but the people of the region as a whole.
Taking part during the meeting, RTI activists from Khliehtyrshi – Arlin Dkhar and Deimon Phawa informed that the RTI reports, exposing the twin scams related to misappropriation of public money and land compensation , were given to them by PIO of JHADC and PIO of Deputy Commissioner.
“If the RTI reports are false, the CEM should file petition challenging the report with the deputy commissioner and JHADC which he is heading till today,” Dkhar said.
Phawa was of the opinion that if RTI reports are not true, the CEM should also ask the authorities concern to arrest those providing the public with wrong information.
Jaintia Traders Association (JTA) president R Mylliem urged the authorities to punish those involved in the twin scams as per law of the land. He said in the meeting, “We will wait for the police to take appropriate action but if they fail, we will sit and decide our next course of action.”
Jaintia Tribal Traders Association (JTTA) leader Iatha Najiar questioned why is it that when it comes to taking action against those who are in power the law seems to be protecting them, but it acts immediately against petty thieves and even ngo when they are engaged in protesting against the system.
“The police should arrest the CEM for he is guilty of corruption based on the RTI reports,” FKJGP general secretary Ricky Shylla said during the meeting.- By Our Reporter
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