Punjab govt giving funds directly for sikhs benefit in a

The Meghalaya government on Monday took exception to its Punjab counterpart providing funds for benefit of people residing in Punjabi Lane here without informing the state government. The issue was raised in the state legislative assembly by Meghalaya's Urban Affairs department minister Hamlet Dohling.

The minister informed the House that the Punjab government had sanctioned Rs 1.5 lakh for treatment of 10 sikh widows in 2015. It (Punjab government) had also sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the construction of the Guru Nanak School at Bara Bazar in 2016, he added.

"I am surprised to see that the government of Punjab has sanctioned funds directly to the East Khasi Hills district deputy commissioner (on the two counts) without informing the state government," he told the house while replying to a supplementary question raised by opposition Congress legislator from East Shillong Ampareen Lyngdoh. On the utilization of the funds, the minister said the school had submitted the utilization certificate on July 31, 2017 and the construction work has been completed.

Shilling had witnessed large-scale violence in June last year following clashes between sikhs living in the Punjabi lane and lacal tribals over an incident of eve-teasing and subsequent assault of a person from a local tribal community. The hill station Shillong had experienced curfew for months after the clashes. Punjab government had raised the matter of security of their community members with the Meghalaya government then.

Lone Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Saleng A Sangma attacked the state government over the issue saying it reflects its irresponsible attitude. "I am not against development programmes by other states...

Now this issue has been there for many years if the state government is allowing (such funds to come in), we are asking for trouble in the future," Sangma warned. He asked whether the state government would also accept if Nepal decides to take up development programs at Langpih.

Sangma also sought assurance from the state government to look into the matter seriously to which the minister replied in the affirmative. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma assured the house that he will take up the issue of income tax paid by tribal youths working outside the state with the Union government.

As per the laid down provisions, tribals of the Northeast are exempted from paying income tax in their states. But, the tax is collected from them while working outside the state. The Chief Minister also informed that three projects have been sanctioned under the North Eastern Council (NEC) in the state during 2018-19 financial year.

The projects are construction of a hostel for a boarding school at Pynursla in East Khasi Hills district (Rs 194 lakh), construction of new building blocks for St Mary's College of Teacher Education in the city (Rs 334.18 lakh) and for construction of Rymbai-Bataw-Borghat-Borsora-Jalalpur Road (40km) in East Jaintia Hills district at a cost of Rs 94.19 lakh, he said. Conrad said Rs 10 lakh for each projects has been received as first installment..

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