GHADC is being deliberately destroyed: Bernard Marak slams 42-month salary drought

Correspondent

Shillong: With salaries pending for 42 months, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) is being systematically dismantled to project it as a failed institution, alleged Member of District Council from Tura, Bernard N Marak. “GHADC is being deliberately destroyed,” he stated, warning that the ongoing crisis is not just administrative failure but the execution of a larger political agenda.

He pointed to the long-standing desire of a veteran Garo politician to abolish District Councils in Meghalaya as the root of the current chaos. According to Marak, some ruling MDCs are working in tandem to push GHADC into irrelevance. “Similar sentiments were expressed by some ruling MDCs to employees and even to fellow MDCs where they clearly mentioned GHADC will be in lock and key,” he said.

Marak accused the Executive Members of ignoring repeated warnings about financial mismanagement, revenue losses, and the handover of key income-generating departments to the state government. “No matter how much issues were raised and concerns were highlighted about the misuse of funds, loss of revenue, and the transfer of income-generating departments to the state, but the Executive Members failed to address these issues despite multiple warnings,” he said.

He described the suffering of thousands of families, including those of non-ruling MDCs, due to the prolonged salary drought. “The pride, ego and incapability of the ruling MDCs who boasted of wielding power have led to the current crisis,” Marak added.

Despite tabling several solutions during House sessions, Marak said they were summarily dismissed. “I proposed several remedies during sessions, but they were disregarded inspite of giving assurances in the floor of the House,” he said.

Accusing the leadership of financial misconduct, he said, “Apart from own revenues and funds, Crores were allocated by the Central Government, in addition to the Council's funds, but 40% of these funds have vanished, likely due to misappropriation or misuse.”

Marak concluded with a grim warning: “The failure of the ruling MDCs should serve as a wake-up call for the people of Garo Hills, as the Council is not only failing or dying but is being deliberately destroyed.”

Also Read: World’s first rain museum to be built in Meghalaya's Mawsynram

Also Watch: