Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader and MLA from Rangsakona, Zenith Sangma stated on September 6 that the central government is responsible for the Rs 5,000 granted under the FOCUS programme.
Speaking at a block-level meeting in Gambegre, West Garo Hills, Sangma said, “CM Conrad Sangma insensibly ended this scheme. Mukul Sangma used to offer Rs. 5,000 as an allowance to every woman to sustain her family.”
“In the assembly, numerous inquiries about the money of JICA and the World Bank which were subjected to misuse by the government is still unanswered. Now, before the election, the MDA government is putting up a sham by giving the same money under FOCUS scheme, which is providing every household with Rs. 5,000. Remember, the money is not from the NPP, but from the central government. It is the taxpayers’ money and not NPP’s,” he added.
SCHEMES LEFT MIDWAY
Criticising the MDA government’s habit of abandoning various schemes midway, he commented, “During his term, Mukul had initiated the scheme Chief Minister’s Social Assistance programme which was not funded by the central government but the erstwhile state government itself. The MDA government has abandoned the scheme.”
MDC Sadhiarani Sangma, in her tirade, also condemned the insensitivity of the MDA government in addressing the grievances of the teachers’/caregivers of Meghalaya. She said, “The NPP-led MDA government has been scamming us for the past four years. They have not brought a single speck of development in the state, especially in Gambegre.”
Also present during the meeting include Dikkanchi D Shira, Lazarus M Sangma, Winnerson D Sangma along with MDCs Cherak W Momin and Nehru D Sangma.