Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh on Tuesday said the state Government cannot review the Roster system, even as she stated that people shouldn’t get into the hunger strike mode because it’s not healthy and this cannot become a trend.
Talking to Meghalaya News 24, Dr. Lyngdoh said, the state cannot have multiple capitals but assured the Chief Minister will visit Tura on July 24th.
Reacting to the Hunger strike by Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK), the Minister said, “We wish that people should not get into these hunger strike modes because it’s not healthy, for us also it becomes a problem and even for the people protesting also it becomes a problem and we don’t want this to become a trend.”
“The demands of Individual groups or individuals getting together to demand for a particular redressal of an issue is also very important as far as the roster is concern we have kept this behind us, you have already seen that the new roster is already in place and all groups were consulted, when we went to every part of the state for these consultations. I hope that the groups understand that the roster is bigger than that they can even think of,” Dr. Lyngdoh said.
“To rewind on that matter which is a collective decision taken by all stakeholders would be incorrect and we regret to inform that this is something which very likely cannot be reviewed,” she added.
The MDA spokesperson further said that the state cannot have multiple capitals, maintaining that the demand will lead to different districts demanding for some or the other thing.
“If every part of the state starts to demand to have secretariats everywhere, winter secretariat, summer secretariat, spring secretariat or autumn secretariat what’s going to happen to the state of Meghalaya, how is the administration going to function. One thing for sure it is now a decision taken by the MDA to go to various parts of the state and meet the people and bring administration closure to the people, you have seen that several departments have already started that exercise,” Ampareen said.
“These demands should not be entertained, that is my personal view, because we will be in trouble if every district comes up with new demands. It will be difficult for us to administrate,” Lyngdoh said.
Stating the Government is trying to bring administration closer to the people, she said, “Please do not have the fear or feeling that we are distant from you. It would be impractical, however, having said that it is also true and the fact that the Chief Minister will be going to Tura on the 24th to attend to this problem.”
“We should refrain from dividing the state further; it’s going to be difficult for us to have any kind of administration. Be sure that every Minister in the cabinet will try to reach out to every part of the state well ahead of time to ensure that there is a feeling of oneness in the entire state,” the Minister added.