By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 14: The Meghalaya government will release the pending salaries of 288 contractual staff nurses within this month, Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla announced.
The nurses have not been paid for November and December, prompting the Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) to criticize the government for the “inhuman” treatment of frontline workers.
Addressing the delay, Shylla explained that the nurses’ one-year contracts expired on November 1. While the Health Department sought extensions for all 288 staff, the Personnel Department initially approved only 200.
“Since this created confusion, the Health department sent the proposal back for correction as we want the extension for all 288 nurses. We are working on it and they will receive their salaries within this month,” the Minister said.
Regarding the indefinite strike by nearly 7,000 ASHA workers over unpaid honorariums and incentives, Shylla noted that the funding for these payments is cleared by the Central Government.
The minister has directed officials to hold discussions with the Meghalaya Asha Workers Union (MAWU) to assure them of an early release of funds. “We are pushing hard to release the amount as soon as possible,” he said.
