NPP’s Pyniaid Sing Syiem elected unopposed as new KHADC chief
Two-time NPP MDC from Sohryngkham Pyniaid Sing Syiem on Tuesday was elected unopposed as the new chief executive member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The election to the CEM’s post was held after the three-year-old Titosstarwell Chyne-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) executive committee collapsed in a no-confidence motion moved by NPP MDC from Rambrai-Jyrngam Bajop Pyngrope and supported by the Congress during the first day of the Council’s summer session on Monday.
The NPP and the Congress have also formed the Khasi Hills Democratic Front (KHDF) to lead the new executive committee in the KHADC with a strength of 18 members.
Pyniaid was also felicitated by members from both the ruling and opposition during the second day of the summer session.
In his speech, the newly elected CEM assured that the NPP-led KHDF executive committee will ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Council.
He also expressed disagreement with the statement of the former CEM Titosstarwell Chyne on not to trust anybody and said, “Without trust we will not be able to work. Therefore, I express my 101% trust in the new EC and I urge all members to extend their full support and cooperation to us.”
Spelling out his priorities, Pyniaid said that the new EC is committed to take up issues relating the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, financial health of the council, border dispute and others.
“We are taking over the new EC with full responsibility and we assure to put the Council’s interest in the forefront especially in view of the move by the Ministry of Home Affairs to bring the constitutional amendment of the Sixth Schedule. We will continue to follow up the matter with both the State and Centre so that we can further give our suggestions. We also conduct a follow up to ensure the Khasi language is included in the Eighth Schedule at the earliest. This can happen if everybody takes a collective responsibility to push for its inclusion,” he said.
On the border issue, Pyniaid lauded the effort taken up by the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to complete the first phase of border talks and resolved dispute in six of the twelve areas of difference with Assam and to start the second phase of border talks for resolving the remaining six areas of difference.
The new CEM also informed the House about his telephonic conversation with the chief of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) and said, “I had requested him (KAAC chief) to ensure there is no harassment committed against the Khasi people residing in areas under the Raid Nongtung along the inter-state border. We are committed to address the grievances of the people living on the border.”
Further, Pyniaid also assured that the new EC will take up steps to improve the financial position of the Council and ensure its over 800 employees are not deprived of their salary.
“We are spending Rs 4 crore monthly and around Rs 50 crore a year only on salary expenditure and half of this amount comes from the council’s own revenue and resources which include professional tax, different fees etc,” he said.
According to him, the other revenue sources of the council also come from the royalty shares on major minerals particularly coal and shares from the Motor Vehicles tax.
“I understand that the officers and staff do have apprehensions that a time may come that the council may not be able to pay salary to the employees but I can assure you that the new EC will not allow the Council to face any problem which will deprive the employees of their salary as was in the case of JHADC and GHADC. Therefore, we need to further strengthen the establishment of the council so that we can serve the people better,” he said.
Regarding the pending Bills passed by the Council, the new KHADC chief said the new EC will soon lead a delegation to meet the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge District Council Affairs Prestone Tynsong to conduct a follow up on these pending Bills which include the Clan Bill.
He also thanked the state government for reconstituting the Expert Committee and said, “We would also want this Committee to co-opt more people, who are well versed with the issue, so that the Bills passed by the KHADC can get the Governor’s assent at the earliest.”
Meanwhile, Pyniaid informed that the new EC is also preparing to introduce new legislation during the current session of the House.
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