JMB a white elephant, wind it up: JSM to State government
A REPORTER
SHILLONG, April 25: The Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM), Central body, has demanded the State government to wind up the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) stating that the Government is wasting resources on a white elephant considering that the State is already in poor fincial conditions.
In a memorandum submitted to the Urban & Municipal Affairs Minister, the District Council Affairs Minister and the Chief Secretary, the JSM pointed that it is not the first time the JMB staff resorted to strike in November2012 and August 2015 due to non-payment of salaries by the concern authorities.
The JSM stated that the JMB was created as per memorandum of agreement signed September 30, 1995 between the JHADC and the State Urban Affairs Department but as per the agreement the JHADC retained most of the powers thus making JMB a toothless board since its inception.
In the memorandum, it further stated that the then Jowai Town Committee under Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) was wind up and the staff relocated to new JMB.
“That, however, the creation of JMB in the then Jaintia and present West Jaintia Hills District is a gross violation of Article of 243ZC of the Indian Constitution as it states: ‘Nothing in this Part shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of article 244’”, the memorandum stated.
The organization has demanded to revive the Town Committee under the JHADC and to relocate the staff of JMB under the Town Committee.
The JSM mentioned that the staff of JMB is presently on strike for 2 weeks due to non -payment of salaries for the last 8 months.
The organization further took note where the DC further said that most of the employees are getting meager Rs 4000 to 6000 as their salaries per month.
The JMB doesn’t have any parking lots or market complexes from where it can collect rent unlike Tura municipal board and Shillong municipal board.
The major revenue used to come from Toll gates which were closed following the Supreme Court’s order.
The JMB had resorted to sub-letting JMB buses to schools and colleges from where Rs 6000 per month was generated which comes to only Rs. 25000 for 5 buses, JSM pointed out in the memorandum as per the DCs statement.
