Shillong: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Deputy Chief Executive Member Nikman Marak has hailed the state government’s decision to release funds for clearing pending salaries of district council employees, calling it a crucial step toward restoring normal administration within the council.
The government recently disbursed Rs. 79.5 crore to the GHADC, bringing relief to its workforce after years of financial distress.
Marak said the resolution of the salary crisis would allow the council to resume its focus on governance and developmental work that had long been disrupted by fiscal hurdles.
Welcoming the move, Marak stressed that the decision was in line with the provisions of the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS) — a tripartite accord inked in 2014 between the Centre, the state government, and the two ANVC groups — which had clearly stated that the state government would bear the responsibility of paying salaries to district council employees.
He pointed out that the ATS, signed during the mainstreaming of the ANVC, was meant to empower the autonomous district councils and strengthen their administrative and financial capacity.
While commending the partial implementation of the accord, he urged the government to ensure its complete enforcement, noting that it was a commitment jointly made by the three signatories.
Marak also reflected on the distinctive administrative framework in Meghalaya, where the state and district councils function side by side in most areas — unlike in Assam, where council jurisdictions are demarcated separately.
Except for specific zones such as Police Bazar and the cantonment area, the GHADC, KHADC, and JHADC continue to operate within overlapping jurisdictions with the state administration.
Recalling past developments, the Deputy CEM mentioned that a previous Executive Committee had appointed nearly 1,000 employees in anticipation of increased administrative authority and state backing promised under the 2014 agreement.
He maintained that full implementation of the ATS would not only stabilise the GHADC’s finances but also strengthen the autonomy and effectiveness of all three district councils in Meghalaya.
