SHILLONG: In a significant move toward streamlining the functioning of autonomous bodies in the state, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has announced that the state government is working in close coordination with the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to implement comprehensive administrative and financial reforms.
This collaboration follows an agreement where the state government is providing financial advances to the two district councils from their own future revenues to help support salary payments and clear existing backlogs, in exchange for the implementation of these crucial reforms.
Reviewing the progress of the initiative in a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between the district councils and the state’s financial teams. A major highlight of this partnership is the formulation of service rules. Nearly 18 distinct service rules are being drafted for various departments within each district council.
These rules, which are currently in an advanced stage of preparation, will govern critical personnel matters such as recruitment and promotion. The government expects these service rules to be fully ready and implemented by the first of September.
Alongside administrative restructuring, a massive digital push is underway to enhance revenue generation and check financial leakages. Tailor-made technology platforms are being developed to match the unique working systems of each council.
In the Garo Hills region, the system for the renewal of land pattas, which occurs every ten years, is being shifted online. This will allow citizens to access, fill out, and submit renewal forms without visiting the council offices, while enabling secure online fee payments directly through bank accounts to minimize cash transactions.
Similarly, digital systems are being created for the online payment of professional taxes and the streamlined issuance of trading licenses, ensuring greater convenience for the public and more efficient collection for the councils.
The reforms also extend to fiscal management, with the state government mapping out tailored procurement policies and other necessary financial rules in tandem with the councils. Furthermore, the state is guiding the councils on revenue maximization strategies, including rate rationalization and the optimal utilization of their existing assets.
Chief Minister Sangma emphasized that these state-guided measures—ranging from computerization and online portals to automated systems operated by the council employees themselves—are being carried out with the absolute consent of the respective councils.
He firmly assured that the state government is not interfering with the unique traditions, culture, or day-to-day traditional functioning of the district councils, but is strictly focusing on financial and administrative guidance to ensure their long-term institutional stability and operational efficiency.
