Meghalaya BJP assures direct funding to tribal villages

The BJP in Meghalaya today assured direct funding to tribal villages in the state in the event of the party winning the by-elections in the two tribal autonomous district councils scheduled for December 13.
The BJP is contesting in all six council constituencies in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and one in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.
"The party shall make serious efforts for the establishment of state finance commission which shall recommend measures about adequate funding to the villages with the participation of the 'dorbar shnongs' under the supervisions of the district councils," State party President Shibun Lyngdoh said while launching the manifesto of the party at its office here.

"We in Meghalaya have suffered a loss of hundreds of crores of rupees due to the lack of direct funding," he said.
The party chief also said that proper measures need to be established in the state so that this loss through negligence would not be perpetuated.
Slamming the ruling Congress, Lyngdoh said the party which had been in power at the Centre, the state and the district councils for so long 'have so far failed to provide constitutional recognition to the village councils and their heads resulting in these bodies becoming powerless'.
The by-poll was necessitated following the state government passing an act last year prohibiting elected legislators from holding another elected post in the tribal council.