Shillong, June 4: Shillong MP Vincent Pala has urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to treat traditional institutions on a par with the Panjayati Raj body in terms of devolution of central funds.
The state does not fall under the Panjayati Raj system.
In a letter addressed to Modi on Friday, Pala narrated the contribution made by the traditional institutions in Meghalaya, especially in tackling Covid ever since it broke out.
“In order that Meghalaya’s entitlement for devolution of funds from the Centre for rural development and governance is formalised by the Centre without tweaking the customary laws relating to election of functionaries in the village councils as are practiced, we request the PMO to constitute a commission to study the finer details of their working and suggest measures to legally, constitutionally and financially strengthen them. Such a decision in consultation with the finance commission would be deemed as a gesture of appreciation by the Centre to preserve the tradition bound local governance system in Meghalaya that stood the test of time”, Pala said.
