Cabinet hikes contingency fund to Rs 1,000 crore

Shillong, Jan 19: The Cabinet on Friday approved the Meghalaya Amendment Ordinance 2024 to increase the state’s contingency fund from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
After a meeting of the Cabinet, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters that this is only a temporary measure. He said the state government brought this ordinance as certain provisions in the budgetary provisions restrict it from utilising the contingency fund till a supplementary demand is passed in the Assembly.
“This is basically a provision to increase the contingency fund from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore because we are receiving additional funds from the Centre,” Sangma said.
Meanwhile, he said the Cabinet approved the proposal to repeal the Meghalaya Civil Task Force Act, 1974. He said the current situation is totally different compared to the time when the mega task force was set up.
To ensure that there are no further complications, he said the Cabinet has decided to absorb the three existing posts in a different branch within the department.
The Cabinet also approved the names of the three awardees of this year’s Meghalaya Day Awards and finalised the State anthem. The Meghalaya Day Awards are – U Tirot Sing Award for arts and literature, Pa Togan N Sangma Award for social services and U Kiang Nangbah Award for sports and games.
“I will not be able to share the names (of the awardees) as they will be officially announced during the Meghalaya Day programme in Tura tomorrow (Saturday),” Sangma said.
On the State anthem, he said, “I am thankful to the Art and Culture Department and all the individuals who have been involved in creating the State anthem. I will be officially launching it during the Meghalaya Day programme.”
The CM further stated that it is a proud moment for the state since it has been without the State anthem for the past 52 years.
Additionally, the Cabinet finalised the names of the VIPs who will take salute during the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.