Shillong, March 26: The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to double the special casual leave granted to government employees to 30 days.

Addressing media persons, cabinet minister and government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said that there was an existing arrangement, a circular, which has now been found to be outdated where the number of days allowed for government employees to avail of special casual leave was just 15 days in a year.

“We decided today that the number of days would now be doubled to 30 days,” he said.

“More importantly the need to allow government employees, who are also taking parts in games and athletic meet and whenever such occasions, where various sports and games requiring participation of government employees is concerned that particular period will be treated as a period where government employees are actually performing their duties and will not be counted as leave,” Lyngdoh added.

According to him, this will also help the state in meeting various requirements especially in view of forthcoming National Games.