‘Raise income ceiling for scholarships’
UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh on Monday asked the state government should raise the minimum annual income ceiling of families of students availing Post-Matric Scholarships from the existing Rs.2.5 lakh to Rs.3 lakh.
In his reply to Mawthoh, Deputy Chief Minister in charge Education R.C. Laloo said that the slab had been revised from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.2.5 lakh per annum in April, 2013.
“The income slab is being revised every two years after taking into consideration the consumer price index of the preceding years of revision,” he said.
Mentioning that the revision of the ceiling was due, Laloo said, “There is a possibility that the ceiling will be raised to Rs.3 lakh.”
Social assistance for single mothers questioned
UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh wondered if the decision of the Government to include single mothers as beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Scheme for Social Assistance will encourage cases of divorce and separation.
Stating this during the Question Hour of the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Monday, Mawthoh wanted to know the reasons for inclusion of single mother under the social assistance scheme.
Justifying the decision of the Government, Social Welfare Minister Deborah C Marak said that the Chief Minister has taken the decision in view of the fact that single mothers also deserve to be beneficiaries of this scheme since many of them belong to the disadvantaged section.
The beneficiary’s annual income should be less than Rs 12000 to qualify for the scheme.
The Minister also informed that as many as 16782 widows and single mothers were availing the scheme.
‘No time frame to settle contractors’ bills’
PWD Minister Sniawbhlang Dhar said that there is no time frame for settling the pending bills of the contractors as payment is made as per the availability of funds.
“The cumulative net payment due to the contractors for various works undertaken by them is Rs 34792.30 lakh,” Dhar said while replying to a question raised by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh during the Question Hour of the Budget Session of the Assembly on Monday.
He, however, said that certain measures have been taken to narrow the gap between actual requirements and funds available at hand like restriction in the sanctioning of the new works and taking maintenance work (except in emergency cases) and enhancement of budget allocation.
Dhar admitted that some bills were pending for years.
“I can assure that we will clear the pending bills as and when the funds are available,” he said.
100 per cent funding: Meanwhile, PWD Minister while replying to another question raised by the Shillong West legislator said that the Centre has agreed to give 100 per cent funding for schemes proposed under Inter-State connectivity Scheme (ISC), Special Accelerated Road Development-North East (SARDP-NE) and Central Road Fund (CRF).
While replying to a supplementary question, he said that the implementation of the various road projects under these three schemes will take off once the funds are received from the Centre.
State spent Rs 136 crore on four new districts
Creating four new districts has cost the state exchequer Rs 136 crore till date.
Giving a break-up of the expenditure during the Question Hour of the Budget Session on Monday, Home Minister Roshan Warjri informed that the State Government spent a Rs 28.5 crore for construction of mini secretariats in the four new districts.
“The government spent Rs 12.58 crore for up gradation and renovation of the Deputy Commissioner Office complexes,” Warjri said while replying to a question raised by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh.
She also informed that the Government has spent Rs 83 crore for construction of composite residential complexes at Resubelpara (North Garo Hills) and Ampati (South West Garo Hills).
The Home Minister informed that the Government has already submitted proposals before Union Minister of DONeR for construction of similar residential complexes at the cost of Rs 40 crore each at Mawkyrwat (South West Khasi Hills) and Khliehriat (East Jaintia Hills).
She also informed that the Government purchased vehicles spending a total amount of Rs 1.49 crore.
In connection with the police establishment in the four districts, Rs 3.58 crore was spent for residential buildings, Rs 4.57 crore for administrative buildings and Rs 2.76 for purchase of vehicles.