The Ri Bhoi District Government Contractor and Supplier Association (RBDGCSA), has expressed strong resentment over what it termed as the state government’s unfair treatment towards local contractors, has decided to organize mass rally to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and will submit a memorandum on June 3. The RBDGCSA, after claiming that the livelihoods of many contractors have been severely affected due to the lack of work opportunities from the state government, held a meeting in Nongpoh to deliberate on the issue and take necessary decisions.
The meeting was attended by RBDGCSA leaders including President Plielad Tiewsoh, Working President CL Masharing, Malcom Langi, President of the Khasi-Jaintia Contractor Association, among others. Speaking to reporters, Plielad Tiewsoh and CL Masharing said that contractors from Ri Bhoi district are deeply concerned over the government’s alleged failure to distribute work fairly, despite development projects worth hundreds of crores being awarded repeatedly to a single company.
They also said that, the government’s alleged biased approach in not allotting work to local contractors has adversely affected the livelihoods of many families who depend on contract work for survival, depriving local contractors of their rightful opportunities, despite being capable of executing various categories of work. The leaders also pointed out that apart from the scarcity of work, contractors are facing serious difficulties due to delays in the release of payments for works already completed under various government departments which had affected many contactors in repaying loans and debts incurred while carrying out government projects.