SHILLONG: In a call for accountability and progress, senior BJP leader and MLA Alexander Laloo Hek has urged the State Government to embrace a sense of “ownership” over developmental projects.
Speaking on the mechanics of progress in Meghalaya, Hek threw his weight behind the 90:10 funding pattern, where the Center provides 90% of funds while the State contributes the remaining 10%.
Hek provided a strategic perspective on why the 90:10 ratio is vital for the state’s governance. He argued that when the State Government invests even a small fraction (10%) of its own resources, it fosters a deeper commitment to the project’s success.
Why the 90:10 split matters?
Hek maintained that it prevents the State from treating projects as “freebies” from the Center. If the Centre provides 100% of the funds, credit wars often break out. With a shared stake, both governments are forced to work in tandem.
He further stated that joint cooperation ensures that the benefits actually reach the common citizen.
Political Backdrop: The G-RAM-G Controversy
Addressing the recent political firestorm regarding the renaming of the MGNREGS scheme to G-RAM-G, Hek remained unfazed. He emphasized that the “brand name” matters far less than the actual impact on the ground.
”What is in a name? Our primary goal is development,” Hek stated firmly.
He reiterated that the BJP’s core mission is to ensure that the underprivileged—especially Job Card holders and those in the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category—do not just receive their dues, but see a significant increase in benefits compared to previous years.
This statement comes at a time of heightened political tension in the capital. Just days ago, on December 19, leaders from the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) staged a protest at the BJP office on Bivar Road. The Congress has been vocal in its opposition to the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to G-RAM-G, viewing it as a move to erase the legacy of the original scheme.
However, Hek dismissed these distractions, concluding that the ultimate priority remains uplifting the poor in Meghalaya and across India.
