TURA: Ministerial Officers from Garo Hills under the banner of the All Garo Hills District Ministerial Officers’ Association (AGHDMOA) have refused to accept the effective date of revised pay announced recently, on grounds that the 5th Meghalaya Pay Commission, headed by retired Chief Secretary, P J Bazeley had recommended its implementation with effect from January 1, 2016.
A memorandum in this regard was also submitted by the association to Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma recently.
“Considering the gap of ten years we are unable to accept the new pay package. The revised pay must be with effect from January 1, 2016 as earlier recommended and not January 1, 2017,” the association said.
Earlier, the government had announced the new pay package for all government employees with effect from January 1, 2017.
In their memorandum submitted to Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, the association said that amounts of Rs 1000/- per month as medical allowance and Rs 500/- as Hill Allowance were also very low and have urged Sangma to raise the medical allowance from Rs 1000/- to Rs 1400 as recommended by the 5th Meghalaya Pay Commission, as well as to increase the Hill Allowance from Rs 500/- to Rs 1000/-.
In view of the unemployment problem being faced in the state ,the association has also urged the government to raise the age limit for entry into government jobs from the current 32 years to 40 years for Scheduled tribes. While increasing the age limit for entry into government jobs, the association suggested that it also raise the age of superannuation to 60 years to make it well balanced.
“States like Punjab, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and many others have taken this initiative to bring down the problem of unemployment. Meghalaya can also do the same,” it said.
