SHILLONG, March 12: After the state government was pulled up by the Congress for the former’s failure to implement the 5th Pay Commission for the employees of the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) since 2017, Transport Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, on Friday informed that the state government has proposed Rs 2.69 crore to pay off the arrears of the MTC staff for 2019.
Moving a cut motion during the ongoing Budget session, Congress MLA, HM Shangpliang, said, “The Transport department had conveyed a government concurrence for implementation of the 5th Pay Commission, 2017, to the employees of the MTC. An amount Rs 2,69,08,696 was sanctioned on February 17, 2021, for this purpose. But this amount that was sanctioned is with effect from January, 2019, and is to be paid during 2021”.
Stating that almost all the government and semi-government employees were enjoying the benefits of the 5th Pay Commission since 2017, he rued, “But I am surprised to see that the implementation of the 5th Pay Commission for the MTC employees has not been considered from 2017. I would like to request the minister concerned to kindly explain the reasons for not clearing arrears from 2017 but preferred to release only with effect from 2019”.
The MLA maintained that this decision has not only put the staff and officers of the MTC in great financial distress but has also deprived the staff of their rights and entitlements from 2017 till date.
“I consider the action of the government to be arbitrary and unfair towards the MTC employees because other corporations like the MIDC and MTDC have paid all their dues to their staff with effect from 2017,” Shangpliang said.
Replying to the Congress MLA, Dhar said the government has proposed an amount of Rs 2.89 crore to be paid as the arrears of the MTC staff for the year 2019.
“The payment of arrears for the year 2020 is still under process. The payment of the pending arrears will be cleared in the next fiscal year depending on the availability of funds,” the transport minister said.
