Tura, April 30: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, unable to function for the last four months due to an ongoing strike by its employees, is losing revenue to the tune of almost 2 crore rupees a month as revenue collection has hit a roadblock with employees striking over nonpayment of their salaries that are due for three years refusing to get back to work until clearance of dues.
Speaking of the challenges being faced by this crisis, the government-appointed Meghalaya civil service officer and GHADC Secretary Rikse Marak addressed media persons on Thursday giving a ground report of the crisis which has so far not been able to get solved.
She expressed worry about the situation and a bleak future for the financial position of the autonomous council unless employees return to duties and revenue generation is started immediately.
“Our biggest challenge has been revenue generation and these last two months are crucial for collection of revenue but the closure has impacted it,” said concerned GHADC Secretary Smt. Rikse Marak to mediapersons.
The need for salary disbursement for all pending months to the employees was a genuine demand, agreed with the Secretary, but at the same time reminded that the financial crisis in the district council was acute and needed a remedy. The ongoing strike has only compounded the situation more as no revenue is able to be collected, says the Secretary. is a valid matter but the financial crisis in the council has made it challenging.
“We are able to pay one month salary of staff after accumulating tax collection and revenue generation of three months. So automatically the gap widens. The gross income from revenue collection touches just Rs 2 Crore whereas monthly salary disbursement under the old scale itself touches approximately 4 Crores,” reveals Secretary Rikse Marak.
Highlighting the large-scale loss in revenue collection at this peak season of tax collections, the GHADC Secretary said that on previous occasions the council could pay one whole month of salary for the staff just with money generated from professional tax given by employees of the government and private organizations. This time the coffers are dry.
But there is a silver lining in the sky, believes the GHADC Secretary with the reforms initiated to strengthen the financial position of the GHADC.
“The reforms initiated include digitization and computerization of all departments which will keep record of all works and transactions. We are in the process of linking with the banks so that citizens who live in far-flung areas of Garo Hills don’t have to spent time and money to come all the way to Tura but can instead pay their council taxes directly through the nearest bank and in the comfort of their respective places of dwelling.”
With a new Executive Committee led by new Chief Executive Member, Benedic R Marak, she says efforts are being made to end the deadlock and resumption of functions of the GHADC.
“We all want the GHADC to function and the staff to resume their duties. We are already working hard to try and fulfill their demands regarding salary disbursement and a proposal is already there. We hope the state government will help us out,” said Rikse Marak.
