Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
Right to Information (RTI) activist Disparsing Rani, on October 21 revealed that there are 8020 vacant posts across the state government departments.
Speaking to reporters, Rani informed that there are 2477 vacant posts in the police department, 2320 in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) and 749 in the health department.
He added that out of the 8020 posts, 367 are in North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGHRIMS).
Meanwhile, Rani also said that Meghalaya is a land of milk and honey but the rate of unemployment is high.
Rani gave the example of Sikkim by stating that the Himalayan state does not have its own resources but only through tourism it has been able to give employment to its people.
He also criticised the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for being a hindrance to development in the state.
He said that there are complaints that the NGOs disrupt construction of highways and other developmental activities in the state.
“These people working with the companies involved in road construction will leave after the work is completed. Why would they stay here since they earn their livelihood working with the company. They are doing the jobs that we can’t,” Rani said.
He said that these companies should be allowed to do their job even as he gave the example of the four-lane Shillong-Dawki road which has stopped.
The RTI activist said that there are reports that the company engaged to construct the road left because the workers were often obstructed.
Rani urged the NGOs to allow these companies engaged in developmental work to operate in the state.
He said that better road infrastructure is the backbone of the economy.
The RTI activist said that the teachers under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) are not getting regular salaries because the state cannot provide the 10 per cent share of funds as required under the central scheme.
Rani also said that Tripura is more developed than Meghalaya stating that from that state flight moves out every 20 minutes but here it is difficult to even fill one aircraft in a day.