Meghalaya Govt release wages of Rs 316 Cr to 5.45 lakh households

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 9, 2020

Meghalaya government has released wages of Rs 316.60 crore to over 5.45 lakh households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to ease their hardships due to the present crisis arising due to COVID-19 lockdown.

Over 22,000 building and other construction workers have also received weekly allowance of Rs 1000 even as more than 98,000 daily wage earners including small time traders have applied under Chief Minister’s Relief Against Wage Loss (CMRAWL) to avail the weekly allowance of Rs 700.

Informing this here on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that the government has already cleared the outstanding wages of Rs 316.60 crore under the MGNREGA through the respective deputy commissioners and block development officers.

“A total of 5,45,000 households have already got the wages at Rs 4,500 each, which I personally feel that Meghalaya is the best implementing state. This is effective from March 25 to April 7,” he said while informing that Rs 218.06 crore was also released as material component.

Tynsong, who is also looking after the labour department, informed that over 22,826 building and other construction workers have also received weekly payment of Rs 1000 on April 7.

“I have also instructed the department to release the balance amount for two weeks by April 11. The officers are on the job to transfer the amount and I am sure it should reach all the beneficiaries by Saturday,” he added.

The deputy chief minister further informed that the government has also decided to reach out to poor families who are not registered daily wage workers by extending financial assistance of Rs 700 per week under CMRAWL.

He said application from over 98,000 (daily wage earners) have been received after the last date for receiving of application has ended on April 8.

“However, some of the BDOs are yet to send all the applications and I feel that the number (of applicants) may go up to 1.10 lakh. I have instructed the labour department to upload the application in data base and hopefully by next week we will be able to finalise the list of beneficiaries,” Tynsong said.

The deputy chief minister also urged the citizens of the state to pray for the state government and officers so that wisdom is granted to them on how to deal with the prevailing situation.

According to him, officers from the secretariat level down to the block level are having sleepless nights and are working hard to ensure that all citizens are safe.