Congress MDC calls for decreasing JHADC’s staff to 1000 to overcome financial catastrophe

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 25, 2019

JOWAI: Jowai Central MDC A A Shullai today called for decreasing the strength of staffs of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to 1000 numbers and also to put a blanket ban on any fresh appointment as to curtail expenditure and enable the Council steer smoothly over the present financial crisis.

Notably, the Council required Rs. 6.06 crore every month for payment of salaries of staffs and members of the Council.

Moving a resolution in the first day of the Summer Session this afternoon, Shullai said tha the Council has been under severe financial stress and strains due to limited financial resources and it is also evident that the Council is overstaffed which have seriously affected it’s financial resources and likely to endanger its existence.

He further said that as per the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council Service Rules, 1981, as amended up-to date, the total approved strength of all classes of services as prescribed in appendices II and III to the Rules is 489 (Four hundred eighty-nine) covering all the departments of the Council. He also said that however according to the Council’s budget for the financial year 2019-2020 the total sanction strength of all classes of services of the Council is 1490.

Shullai said that Rule 9 of the aforesaid Service Rules, 1981, enable the Executive Committee to determine the strength of various grade of different classes of services of the council and also to create post as occasion may required by making provision for such post in the budget estimate of the Council.

He however lamented that due to this provision posts were created and appointments were made in the past even when such occasion is not required and resulted in over-appointment of employees where the staffing has no relevance to the necessity and in turn results to a huge financial burden to the Council.

In order to maintain a sound financial position, to ensure smooth functioning and for the survival of the Council in the long run, the former Chief Executive Member of JHADC suggested this House hereby resolves to determine the total strength of all classes of services of the Council from this period on to 1000 (One thousand) and no further appointments will be allowed until this strength is achieved with due time, after retirement of the existing officers and staff.

Opposing the resolution moved by his former party-man, Executive Member in-charge Trades Winning G Sungoh informed that the Executive Committee is taking necessary steps as to rectify the Service Rules of the Council in regards to the method recruitment or appointment and promotion of staffs.

He also argued that there are many conditions and implications involved for decreasing the staff strength to 1000 numbers as suggested by Shullai.

A host of MDC from the treasury bench opposed the resolution, which included Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, Deputy Chief Executive Lasky Rymbai, Executive Members Phasmon Dkhar, Robinus Syngkon and other and they all urged Shullai to withdraw the resolution and to let the Executive Committee amend the Service Rules accordingly.

The Jowai Central MDC agreed to withdraw the resolution on the hope that the Executive Committee will stick to its words of amending the Service Rules at the earliest.