Shillong, Sept 24: Minister-in-charge of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Labour Employment & Skill department Methodius Dkhar on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to chief minister Conrad K Sangma for inducting him in the cabinet and assured that his priority would be to ensure these departments serve the people of Meghalaya effectively, particularly at the grassroots level.
“I express my gratefulness and gratitude to the chief minister for considering me to be in the cabinet and my party leaders and workers and people from my constituency,” the HSPDP legislature from Mawshynrut said.
Dkhar, who has also been given charge of the Registration & Stamps department, and Cooperation department, told reporters that he would like to have an ‘inclusive system’ in place.
“I would definitely like to have a system which is inclusive, where I will have proper review meeting with the officers of the departments concerned. Yes, there are stakeholders who are directly or indirectly involved in the system. So, I would like to have a review meeting with them and then I will see what is the best we can do as a department to serve the people as a whole,” he stated.
The newly inducted minister also stressed the importance of collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders, including officers and employees, to achieve departmental success.
Regarding the Labour department, Dkhar said that there is a need for a thorough review to strengthen the department’s ability to protect the interests of both labourers and employers.
He plans to assess current policies, identify areas for improvement, and consider new amendments to enhance the department’s effectiveness.
On the issue of illegal interstate migrant workers, the minister admitted that it is quite critical and said that he plans to hold a review meeting with the department to understand the steps taken so far and determine the best course of action to protect the interests of Meghalaya’s people while ensuring that ongoing (construction) works are not disrupted.
“This is quite critical as of now as there are many issues that have raised in the past also and in the recent months also, there are many issues raised about this and on this particular subject I would to again have a review meeting with the department to know what they have done in the last few months and what are the steps taken to protect interest of our people of the state and also not hampering the work that is here right now.”
When asked about expectations, Dkhar acknowledged that they are high but expressed his commitment to delivering his best with the collaboration and cooperation of stakeholders.
“I hope we will be able to meet all those expectations and I will try to deliver to the best of my capacity,” he concluded.
