SHILLONG, Sept 13 � The opposition NCP today cornered Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for apparently bending Central norms during implementation of Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in the State.
During question hour in the Assembly today, Conrad Sangma, leader of the opposition from the NCP, said if the government was not following laid Central Government guidelines during implementation of the campaign, then it was a serious matter.
He said that the government by giving inadequate amount to the beneficiaries is only trying to get their name enlisted in the campaign�s roll and thereby try getting the Nirmal Gram Puraskar from the Centre.
�The State Government is not focusing on quality but getting as many names on board for getting award,� he maintained.
The leader of the opposition made the observation after the Chief Minister said that Below Poverty Line (BPL) families are sanctioned Rs 4,000 for construction of toilets under the campaign. But, in some cases, after the recommendation of village committees, the amount is shared amongst other villagers.
Admitting the sanctioned amount was inadequate, Sangma urged the legislators to contribute so that Meghalaya can achieve the objectives under the TSC. He, however, said that no norms of the Central Government has been flouted.
�It�s the beneficiaries themselves who gives their share to others. The State Government has never flouted the norms,� the Chief Minister added.
The objective of TSC is to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas through construction of toilets and eradicate the practice of open defecation.
