CM defends move on working days

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has defended the decision of the state government to declare December 28 and 29 as working days.
Informing that a number of departments, including finance, are working on holidays including Saturday, Sangma said the decision was taken to complete the entire exercise for implementation of the new pay structure.
Stating that declaring and swapping holidays are based on exigency, the chief minister said the state government was informing everybody in advance that the two days will not be declared holidays with compensatory working days.
“We are only requesting everyone to optimally utilise time for work,” he said even as he added that the gigantic exercise of pay fixation requires the drawing and disposal officer to complete the exercise.
Sangma said by the New Year, most of the drawing and disposal officers would be busy with pre-election exercise including training and there would be dislocation of the exercise. “By declaring December 28 and 29 as working days, the government is only optimally utilising the time,” he said.
Asked if the government will consider reverting back its decision by declaring the two days holidays next year, the chief minister only said that this year the decision was taken to complete the whole exercise for implementation of the new pay structure.
“Since in the preceding years we have been generous so why can’t the government be generous even in the future,” the chief minister said.