SHILLONG:
State BJP leader Bernard Marak has accused the state government of denying dues to workers and contractors and that it has no interest to look into their plight.
He cited the suffering that Anganwadi and ASHA workers, SSA teachers, Covid contractual staff, government school, college and ad hoc teachers, nurses, muster roll workers besides contractors are going through.
“They have lost their importance because political leaders have no will to look into their woes. These were the very people who had voted the leaders to power,” Marak said.
According to him, these leaders coldly betrayed them and turned a deaf ear to their needs and their children dropped out from schools and colleges while others are doing part time jobs to make ends meet.
He also said that in the last four years upgradation of schools and colleges has not been taken up by the state government.
Marak pointed out that the Tura Government College, which is one of the oldest in Garo Hills, needs special assistance to revamp its infrastructure and to fill up vacant posts.
“Students are suffering for not having enough classrooms and lack of various other facilities promised to them,” he said.
According to the BJP leader, Tura Civil Hospital, which is an option for thousands in Garo Hills, has no medicine supply and everything has to be bought from private pharmacies.
He also said that SSA schools need sanctions for school construction and improvements which the government is neglecting. Besides, salaries of the teachers are not paid regularly.
Marak also said that many contractors have their bills pending and instead of clearing their dues new companies are given work which don’t even pay local taxes.
“They are allotted works in crores while the many local contractors run from pillar to post for their dues,” Marak said.
He said that the last four years was a waste and it is a fact that the state as a whole did not move forward as anticipated by all.
“It’s only the leaders and their followers who benefited the most out of the centrally-sponsored projects, the public money and revenue generated from own resources and the general public and the employees are mere spectators of their corruption,” the BJP leader said.