Selling guidelines
The Meghalaya State Direct Selling Guidelines, 2019 were cleared by the Cabinet on Monday. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has notified guidelines on direct selling on October 26, 2016 as guiding principles for state government to consider regulating the business of direct selling and multi-level marketing and to strengthen the existing regulatory mechanism on direct selling and multi-level marketing. These were done with an intention to prevent fraud and to protect the legitimate rights and interest of the consumer.
Lotteries Rules
The Meghalaya Lotteries Rules, 2019 was passed. “The state has lost a lot of revenue due to the fact that lottery had not been conducted in the state for the last 11 years. That is why the government has finally come up with the Meghalaya Lotteries Rules in order to streamline the process,” Home Minister James Sangma said. When asked, he said the revenue loss is quite considerable.
Secy’s term extended: The service of the secretary of the Meghalaya State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has been extended for a period of one more year. Sangma informed that the Commission does not have a president and in the absence of a president, the Cabinet decided to extend the services of the secretary, HN Arengh.
Cabinet clears staff rules: Proposal to repeal the supersession of the Meghalaya Staff (Services Rules) was discussed and cleared by the Cabinet.
Commerce and Industries Rules: The Meghalaya Commerce and Industries (Service Rules) was also approved by the Cabinet. In view of the recommendation of the Fourth Meghalaya Pay Commission to expedite finalisation of service rules and for streamlining the working of the department, the draft service rules was framed and placed before the Cabinet.
Service Tax Act: The amendments to the Meghalaya Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 have been proposed in the Cabinet and these will be taken up as an ordinance for which the Cabinet has given its approval. “Even after the first amendment made, it was seen that many issues were still needed to be ironed out to address the tax payers grievances, to simplify the return filings system and plug the revenue leakage and to further streamline the administration process,” the home minister said.