By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 21: In a heated session during the Question Hour on the second day of the winter session, the United Democratic Party (UDP) brought to light the prolonged delay in releasing salaries of KHADC employees. The KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM), Pyniaid Sing Syiem attributed the delay to government shares not reaching the the Council on time.
UDP senior Member of District Council (MDC), Teiñwell Dkhar, questioned the Executive Committee’s claim that salaries are consistently credited on time, asserting that this claim is misleading.
Dkhar stated, “The salaries should have been credited to the accounts of the employees within 1 or 2 of every month like the government employees. But there are many instances where the salaries of the employees are not credited even after the 10th of the month,”
Admitting to a recent delay, Dkhar emphasized the need for accountability in the salary release process. In response, KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) explained that salaries are funded through shares from major and minor minerals, forest producers, and the council’s own revenue collection, including professional taxes.
“We cannot utilize development scheme funds for salaries. Delays occur when government shares are delayed, affecting the council’s ability to release salaries promptly,” Syiem explained.
Revealing the substantial financial commitment, the CEM disclosed, “The council allocates almost Rs 5 crore monthly for salaries, encompassing staff, officers, members, pensioners, and other entitled benefits.”
Despite the challenges, the KHADC CEM assured the council that the Executive Committee would exert its best efforts to ensure timely salary releases in the future.