Shillong, July 30: Deputy Chief Executive Member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Nikman Ch. Marak, has voiced optimism about the council’s future, stressing the transformative potential of financial reforms modeled after successful autonomous councils in the Northeast.
“If our council works like those in Bodoland, Karbi Anglong, Tripura, or Dima Hasao, it would be a great help. That’s our hope,” Marak said, expressing confidence that systemic changes could bring stability and progress to the beleaguered council.
Marak admitted that the GHADC’s salary backlog—now stretching to 41 months—remains a major hurdle, but affirmed the council’s commitment to finding solutions through support and constructive dialogue.
“We are always open to talks, suggestions, and criticism. Any resolution must be in the interest of our people and the autonomous district council,” he said.
The financial crisis, he noted, has been decades in the making, worsened by dwindling revenue following the coal mining ban and an overstretched workforce.
“This has been a long-pending issue for the past 20–30 years. We don’t generate enough revenue to run the council. I’m not blaming anyone, just citing the reasons. And yes, we are overstaffed,” he admitted.
Although the workforce has been trimmed to around 1,000 employees, salary arrears dating back to 2022 remain unsettled.
“We’ve tried to manage it for years, but it’s just not enough. The 5th Pay Commission was cleared last year, yet the burden persists,” Marak explained.
Concerns over the backlog recently reached the Governor’s office after Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak raised the matter, though the council is still awaiting official communication.
“We haven’t seen any notification yet. Once we do, we’ll meet with the Executive Committee and discuss a way forward,” Marak said.
A crucial challenge, he underlined, is the absence of fund devolution from the state government.
“In Meghalaya, district councils don’t receive financial support through the State Finance Commission. Though it’s now an Act, implementation and appointments are still pending,” he pointed out.
Concluding on a note of determination, Marak called for sustained reform and collective effort.
“We’ve come this far because we’re trying. But we need support, we need structure, and we need a vision that works—not just for the GHADC, but for all autonomous councils,” he said.
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