Rongjeng, March 24: The National President of NPP & Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at an election campaign in Mangsang under Darugre GHADC constituency on Wednesday revealed that names of hundreds of ghost employees were included in the payroll of the district council and money to the tune of several lakhs was withdrawn as salary disbursement during the tenure of previous Congress Executive Committee for which the district council was now suffering.
Thank you Rongjeng for consistently supporting NPP. We appeal to the people of Garo Hills to continue supporting us by voting for NPP.
NPP For You || NPP For Meghalaya pic.twitter.com/LfM69MRisx
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 24, 2021
“When our NPP EC took over and began a review of the financial crisis in the GHADC it was found that out of 2300 names in the payroll, only 1700 were actual employees. The ghost employees had no name or any bank account and yet money was being withdrawn under their names. Who was taking the money needs to be investigated, ” said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma before a large crowd of supporters who waited until dark to hear him speak.
The ghost employees consisting of almost 600 people, some of whom were put in the salary structure ranging from 18,000 to almost 30,000, led to lakhs of rupees being taken out each time monthly salary disbursement took place.
“With the reforms initiated by our NPP EC we have been able to put a stop to this misappropriation,” said Conrad Sangma.
The chief minister who is on an extensive tour of East and North Garo Hills seeking support for NPP candidates in the GHADC polls was at kharkutta on Tuesday to support the candidature of Edbirth D Shira.
Today, the chief minister campaigned for Darugre NPP candidate Henen R Sangma.
Breaking the news about an upcoming financial respite for the ailing autonomous councils in the state, Conrad Sangma informed the gathering that the centre has accorded sanction of ₹700 cr for district councils of Meghalaya, of which GHADC will get around ₹250 cr for creating development assets for Garo Hills.
Urging the people not to get carried away by false propaganda of Congress, he appealed to the people to vote for NPP and its candidates.
During his campaign at Darugre, the chief minister was accompanied by NPP MLAs Dy Speaker & senior NPP leader Timothy D Shira, Marcuise Marak and Jim Sangma.
At the election rally Timothy D Shira lambasted the Congress for their tall promise to reform GHADC.
He accused the Congress of being an expert in lying and said, “When they are not in power in State or Centre, how can they transform GHADC?”
Govt Chief Whip & NPP leader Marcuise Marak who also spoke said that prior to NPP regime in council, the Congress party had failed the council with financial mismanagement. He told the gathering that NPP has been working to create a transparent financial and management system in the council.
“NPP is committed to further strengthen the GHADC. I urge the public not to believe the lies being spread by the Congress party,” said Marak.
