By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government on Tuesday defended its decision to terminate the service of 225 home guards volunteers in Garo Hills, saying that there was no budgetary allocation to pay the salaries of the personnel.
Replying to a special motion moved by Chokpot MLA Clifford Marak, Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that 30 home guards volunteer were deployed in Garo Hills in 1994 which was increased to 50 in 2000 and another 175 personnel were inducted in 2007, raising the total number to 225.
Tynsong further informed that prior to 2012, payment was made to the home guards on a regular basis from the non-plan head but this practise was objected to by the CAG.
In August, 2012, the salaries of the home guards were increased to Rs.9100 per month by the Civil Defence and Home Guards due to which the total liability for the 225 personnel came to Rs.2,45,70,000 per annum, the Minister said, adding that this sum was not being provided to the department under the regular budgetary allocation.
Tynsong, further, stated that the liability was being met from the Thirteenth Finance Commission but lately it had become very difficult to continue payment of the salaries.
He also informed that the department also has a contingent of 297 muster roll employees who were performing the same duties as the home guards but were only being paid Rs.4800 per month based on the wage rates notified by the Labour department, which however, was not taken too kindly by the muster roll staff.
“It was for the reasons of financial crisis, ineffectiveness of the home guards and dissatisfaction of the existing muster roll workers that the decision was taken in July this year,” he said.
He mentioned that 50 home guards who had completed more than 10 years of service were offered to be re-deployed till March 31, 2015 at Rs.200 per day while the remaining 175 personnel were offered to be re-deployed for a period of three months at Rs.180 per day, which was rejected by them.
As an interim measure, an offer was made to the home guards to work on a consolidated sum of Rs.5400 per month, Tynsong said, adding that 53 home guards in Khasi Hills division and 20 in Jaintia Hills accepted the offer, while the others were yet to respond to the same.