SHILLONG, July 08: The employees of the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) will get their salaries before the Behdeinkhlam Festival next week after non-payment of salaries for 11 consecutive months.
The hope for the JHADC employees comes after the due concerned of the Executive Committee and the MDCs in the Opposition which includes the NPP and the NPP under the leadership of the CEM, Thombor Shiwat supported also by the MLA of Jowai, Wailadmiki Sutnga met with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Kongkal Sangma to appeal the Government to release the allocated funds due to the Council from minerals.
The CEM of the JHADC while speaking to media persons in Shillong said the Executive Committee wants to pay the salaries of all the employees before the Behdeinkhlam Festival so that they can participate in the Festival jubilantly with pomp and flair.
He informed that the JHADC has urged upon the Chief Minister, Conrad Kongkal Sangma to release the allocated funds of the Council amounting to Rs.50 crores but the Chief Minister has promised to release only Rs.30 crores first on Monday of the coming week, and the remaining will be released in subsequent days.
The CEM expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and also informed that out of the Rs.30 crores that the Government has promised to release, they can initially pay 4 months salaries of the Council employees before Behdeinkhlam.
Wailadmiki Shylla said that the revenue of the Council is primarily from coal but after coal mining was banned, the Council has met with much financial distress and due to this he had raise the issue several times in the Legislative Assembly to seek means so the Council can thrive especially in paying the salaries to the employees.
He said that the Chief Minister has given due notice to the problem and has directed to make provision for the funds with an e-file and he has promised to deliver the funds to the JHADC on Monday.
