Equal financial assistance to district councils: Conrad

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Monday the state government will try to ensure equality in terms of financial assistance to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Sangma was replying to Independent legislator SK Sunn during the question hour.
Sunn pointed out that the state’s grant-in aid was released to GHADC but the KHADC’s request was not met. “There should be uniformity,” he said and added that in November 2013, the KHADC had sought a one-time financial assistance to clear arrears of its staff.
Sangma, who was replying on behalf of District Council Affairs Minister James Sangma, said a proposal for one-time assistance of Rs 5.39 crore for meeting the pension payment was received from KHADC in August 2011.
“The pension liability of ex-MDCs of GHADC for the year 2013-14 was cleared while the pension of ex-MDCs of KHADC has not been cleared as the matter is pending before the High Court of Meghalaya,” he informed the House.
The fund that KHADC asked for was twice of the amount given to GHADC, which was Rs 2.54 crore and the cash-strapped state exchequer was not in a position to give it. So the district council was asked to use its royalty from minerals.
To a supplementary question, Sangma said the rate of pension payable to former MDCs in GHADC is Rs 5,000 after completing the first term, Rs 5,500 after completing the second term, Rs 6,000 after completing the third term and Rs 6,500 after completing the fourth term.
The pension of former MDCs in KHADC is Rs 5,000 for the term of office not less than five years plus additional pension of Rs 200 per month for every year in excess of the five years subject to the maximum of Rs 8,000 per month.
As far as JHADC is concerned, the pension is Rs 5,000 per month for the term of office not less than five years plus additional pension of Rs 600 per month for every year in excess of the five years subject to the maximum of Rs 11,000 per year.