Meghalaya: CM inaugurates NE workshop

Shillong, Oct 1: Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy has stressed on the need for harmonious relations between the Centre and the states for stability, security and economic growth of the country.

Inaugurating a two-day North Eastern Regional Workshop on 'Criminal Justice, National Security and Centre-State Cooperation and Decentralised Planning and Governance', Dr Roy said the system was also critical for the welfare and well being of the people.

''The Centre and the larger states need to be sensitive about the smaller ones, especially the resource profiles of these states both in terms of human as well as material resources,'' he elucidated.

The Chief Minister added that over the years flow of funds, though adequate, was still leading to growing inequities. He also said as far as Meghalaya was concerned, part X of the Constitution provides for the administration of the Scheduled and Tribal areas.

Regarding national security, Dr Roy said the present status in the country needed to be strengthened and there was need for dedicated intelligence gathering system with experts on subjects like terrorism, insurgency and fundamentalism.

''Since most of the North Eastern states do not have adequate police training facilities, national security organisations need to impart technical training to state police officers,'' he said.

The Chief Minister regretted that criminal justice system was ''virtually collapsing under its own weight as it is slow, inefficient and ineffective and people are losing confidence in the system''.

He stressed the need for a paradigm shift from accused-oriented to victim-oriented criminal justice system, with adequate protection for the right of the accused.

The workshop was organised by the commission on Centre-State Relations, New Delhi. Speakers included Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, Secretary, North Eastern Council Falguni Rajkumar and Justice (retd) M M Punchi.

UNI