Shillong, Jun 30: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said reforms in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) are progressing steadily, with service rules for all departments expected to be ready by September 1 and new online systems being developed to improve revenue collection.
The two councils had earlier accepted the state government’s proposal for financial support in exchange for administrative and financial reforms, Sangma said.
“We had a meeting with GHADC and JHADC, which are the two district councils that had accepted the proposal from the Government of Meghalaya to work closely with the Government of Meghalaya to support them,” Sangma told reporters.
“This is in terms of giving them advances from their revenue to support their salaries, clearing some of the backlogs based on their revenue. So, advances have been given for that, and in turn, they are accepting reforms, mainly administrative reforms and financial reforms, so that we can actually improve the overall functioning of the councils,” he said. He clarified that the reforms would not touch cultural matters.
“Without going into the different aspects of tradition, culture, and other aspects which are very unique to the district councils, without interfering in those aspects,” he added. Following a review meeting held on Monday, Sangma said both councils are working with the state’s finance teams.
“I am happy to inform that both the district councils are working with our finance teams. Whether it is the service rules — almost close to 18 service rules in each of the district councils — they are at an advanced stage,” he said. “We expect that by the first of September, the service rules for all the different departments, for both the district councils, will be ready and implemented,” Sangma said. He noted that the service rules are “very important because they take care of recruitment, promotion, and different aspects of the personnel department, which is very crucial.”
On revenue reforms, the Chief Minister said online systems are being developed to make collection more efficient and reduce cash transactions. “For example, in Garo Hills, the renewal of pattas, which happens every 10 years, they are working to make the renewal system online, so that the collection is more efficient. The payments will be online through bank accounts, so that there is minimum cash transaction,” he said.
“Online, you will get the renewal forms, fill up the renewal forms, pay the necessary fees, and get your pattas renewed,” he added. Similar online platforms are being created for professional tax and trading licences, Sangma said.
“There is a system that has been created where people can pay professional tax online, so that again, there is convenience for the people and, at the same time, revenue collection will improve.” “Similarly, for trading licences also, systems are being created based on the current system which works in every Council, because every Council’s working system differs. So, whatever is tailor-made and whatever the working system is there, based on that the technology platform is being created,” he said. Procurement and financial policies are also being mapped with the councils.
“All of these are also being mapped and are being closely worked out with the councils, which we are hopeful will streamline the overall administration, working, and overall financial stability of the councils,” Sangma said. He said the government is also exploring ways to enhance council revenues. “We are also looking into the aspect of seeing how we could also improve the revenue of the councils, because we realise that in many areas, whether it is rate rationalisation, whether it is maximum utilisation of the different assets that they have, all of these things are also very important,” he said.
Sangma reiterated that the reforms are being carried out with the consent of the councils.
“Without interfering in the day-to-day functioning of the other aspects, but guiding them in terms of finances with their consent,” he said.
“We are hopeful that these measures, these reforms in the form of creating online portals, creating online systems and computerised systems which will be, as I said, used and operated by the employees of the Council — we are hopeful that we will be able to improve the functioning of the councils and lead to reform and stability of the councils in the long run,” he added.
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