Rakkam calls for major reforms in GHADC amid unpaid salaries crisis

Shillong, Sept 29: Meghalaya Cabinet Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) leader, Rakkam A Sangma, has called for sweeping reforms in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) as issues over unpaid salaries continue to mount. Despite the recent release of a month’s salary, over 30 months of salary payments remain pending, further straining the council’s finances.

Addressing the ongoing crisis, Sangma pointed out that the problems are systemic rather than tied to which political party governs the council. “It’s not about who rules the council, but about the system,” he said, noting that the Congress party had left salaries unpaid for 20-30 months before the NPP took control. Despite the government’s support, the financial instability persists. “The District Council needs major reforms, otherwise the trust from the Government of India will decline,” he warned.

Sangma stressed the need for collective responsibility from all stakeholders, including Members of District Councils (MDCs), employees, and local leaders like the Nokmas. He highlighted that the Government of Meghalaya has gone “above and beyond” to support the council by paying its employees but questioned the balance between revenue and expenditure. “If the revenue is not enough, there’s something wrong. Maybe the number of employees is excessive. The income and expenditure should be balanced.”

When asked about the potential impact of the proposed 125th Constitutional Amendment, Sangma acknowledged its significance in securing more funds for the council. “There is a proposal for funding from the Government of India, and if the amendment had come earlier, the situation might have been different,” he said. Sangma expressed hope that both the state and central governments would uphold the council’s role under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

It maybe recalled that a three-member committee led by Union Minister Nityanand Rai was formed recently to address concerns raised by various Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). The committee was formed after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and has been tasked with submitting a report to the Centre.

Meanwhile, 10 ADCs, led by KHADC Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem, have formed a separate committee to review the challenges facing the councils. This group includes representatives from the Khasi, Jaintia, Garo, Bodo, Tripura, and Karbi Anglong councils, as well as three councils from Mizoram—Lai, Chakma, and Mara.

The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to amend provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule, which governs the operation of autonomous councils across India’s tribal areas.

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