In what will come as welcome news to employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), a new circular released by the executive committee has directed bill assistants to prepare for the payment of three months pending salaries of the employees, though only in the old 4th pay commission scale.
The circular, dated today and signed by the joint secretary stated that the salaries would be paid for the months of February, 2019 to April, 2019 of the more than 30 months pending salary dues. Earlier the EC has paid out five months salaries to employees of the council after protests from them over pending dues.
The latest salary announcement comes even as the CEM of the GHADC, Benedic Marak along with BJP MDC Promod Koch are on a tour of the national capital seeking funds for infrastructure development.
Cash strapped GHADC has been in the doldrums in terms of finances mainly due to unaccounted for transactions and corruption ruling the roost for decades. The severely depleted reserve of the council has been blamed on extremely poor financial management by officers and MDCs alike, something that the current dispensation is looking to change for the better.
Benedic, over the past two days has met with union minister for Law & Justice, Kiren Rijiju, union minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region of India, G Kishan Reddy and Pratima Bhoumik, minister of state for social justice and empowerment.
On the agenda for discussion has been the development of infrastructure of GHADC including the administrative building and staff quarter, solid waste management solutions, development of import/export centres close to the border with Bangladesh, rain water harvesting, development of eco-tourism and its infrastructure.
Further the GHADC delegation sought funds for the development of village Council Courts and for its running expenses as well as funds under ADIP and RVY schemes.
