Govt releases Rs 79.5 cr to pay GHADC staff salary
Shillong, Oct 15: In a huge relief for the crisis-hit Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), the state government has released Rs 79.5 crore to Council to clear pending salary of its employees.
The released amount includes Rs 11 crore dues payable to GHADC and Rs 68.5 crore as advance payment against future royalties to the Council.
While the Council’s employees were paid salary for over 40 months, the amount will be sufficient to clear over 10 months’ pending salary.
“With this amount, the GHADC will now be in a position to release the 12 months’ backlog to its employees,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters on Wednesday.
The amount has been released to an escrow account, specifically meant for salary disbursement.
Meanwhile, the state government has put a condition for the Council in utilising the amount.
A Principal Secretary level official will monitor the finances to ensure the funds are used only for salary purposes.
“We have stressed that reforms should take place, service rules should come into place and revenue collection should go up. We are hoping that when all of this falls into place, we will see some kind of financial stability (in the GHADC),” Sangma said.
He also made it clear that the fund is not an additional amount, but advance payment from GHADC’s own share of royalties.
Similar offers of assistance have also been offered to the ADCs of Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills, which have not yet responded to the offer.
“The other ADCs (JHADC & KHADC) have not come up with their reports to us yet… We are not here to force anyone, we are here to work together and to support in any way possible,” he said.
“If the councils agree, it is only then will we find a way to work together and to move forward,” he added.
