Rs. 1602.9 cr released ahead of Christmas in Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government has released Rs. 1602.9 crore this month from state resources that would go into one month’s advance payment of salaries, pensions and other expenses ahead of Christmas, an official said on Saturday.
Commissioner and Secretary, Finance, Dr. Vijay Kumar D, said the payment would benefit 50,000 state government employees and over 30,000 pensioners to amplify the celebrations of the festive season.
Advance payment has also been made for all the casual and contractual employees working across the State, he said. “This advance payment is a 30.8 percent increase over the previous year,” Kumar said.
Out of this total Rs. 348.1 crore would go towards salaries, pension Rs. 93.4 crore, wages Rs. 9.7 crore and contractual workers payment Rs. 4.1 crore.
Kumar said additional funds amounting to Rs. 255.5 crores have been released in the current financial year to the three district councils to enable payment of current salaries and a few months of pending salaries.
Moreover, contractors’ bills under 53 major works (Rs. 416.1 crore) and 27 minor works (Rs. 154.7 crore) have also been released for all the works departments.
Kumar said funds were released to all the major departments of the state amounting to Rs. 664.1 crore.
The finance department has also released funds for the various flagship state schemes and Rs. 23 crore has been disbursed to 92,051 beneficiaries under the Focus+ scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer, he said.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also holds the finance portfolio, while releasing the funds has extended his heartfelt Christmas and New Year greetings to all the citizens of the State.