Administrative Crisis Hits Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council

KAAC Suffers Due To Administrative Crisis

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has a mammoth administrative structure of 30 transferred departments and more than five non-transferred sectors. The council administers 10434 square kilometres of physical area munder its jurisdiction. It is suffering under an administrative crisis.

Its current predicament began with the termination of the incumbent Principal Secretary of the KAAC Moloy Bora. Bora was a senior Assam Administrative Service officer, terminated by the Council authority last month. The council then appointed Mrs. Binapani Deuri ACS, serving as Joint Secretary in KAAC to oversee KAAC affairs.

The tussle between Principal Secretary Moloy Bora and Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, centred on the release of funds to the Irrigation department. In particular, there was an issue with the head of account 4702 AIBP central scheme flouting all government protocols, as reported last month.

The ousted Principal Secretary Moloy Bora, failing to swallow his elimination easily, filed a case in Guwahati High court seeking a remedy, and received a stay order from the Guwahati High Court.

Meanwhile, based on the proposal of the KAAC authority, the Assam government appointed Mrs. Jayasree Daulagaphu, a senior IAS officer into the post. Mrs. Daulagaphu was transferred from the service of KAAC during the last parliamentary election after about 20 years of service in Karbi Anglong in various government posts.

The question arises whether Mrs. Daulagaphu can begin in the post of Principal Secretary before Moloy Bora hands over charge in accordance with the judicial regulation.

As of today, three deputed Assam government administrative officers are in line for the coveted post but due to legal adversity the preferred one cannot assume charge and take control of the KAAC administration. Due to this deficiency in the top bureaucracy, productivity in KAAC work culture has eroded from the administration, and the present Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang, finds it hard to accept.

Mr. Ronghang’s buzz word is speedy implementation of developmental schemes and generation of self-reliant earnings utilizing government resources up to the optimum level.

This quandary has dire consequences on the greater interest of the people of this hilly autonomous district. The entire economy is dependent on the effective and well-organized functioning of this local self administrative setup. An early end to this bureaucratic calamity is needed.

Sushanta Roy

Sushanta Roy is a journalist in Assam, India, who photographs and writes about the people, animals and flora of Assam, and the things that affect them.