Meghalaya’s own revenue drop by 80 percent due to COVID-19 crisis

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 20, 2020

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has admitted that the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has hugely affected the state’s own revenue generation.

“I can roughly tell you that there has been a drop of almost 80 percent in our own state’s revenue. Also, we have had almost closed to 20-25 percent decrease in the share of the central taxes,” Sangma said while speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Assembly session.

Economic activities have come to a standstill during the the past two months due to national lockdown, which aimed has been to flatten the curve of the coronavirus.

Keeping this in mind, the state government had recently constituted a task force to revive the economy of the state post COVID-19 pandemic situation.

On the economic packages announced by the Centre, the chief minister however said when it comes to economic package it is a complete picture that one has to see.

“(As) government has announced a lot of packages, we are waiting for the details on how we are going to move forward and how one is going to apply for it, who are eligible for it, what is the procedures. Once we figure all of those aspects, then our job is to ensure number one maximum of people should benefit, number two wherever the gaps are there, stimulus has to put in, we will see and accordingly act.

Therefore it will not be appropriate for us to simple respond to it we need to go into the details of the economic condition in the state and the region as a whole, look at the strength that we have, the challenges we are facing, look at policies the government has come up with and what are the things we need to do and then only we will be able to decide.

A lot of analysis is needed to be done very fast which we are hoping within the next two-three weeks, will have a strong picture before us and then we will take a call,” Sangma said.

On the suggestion of a Congress MLA from Nongthymmai for 50 percent salary cut from all 60 legislators, the chief minister however said that is something which falls under the Assembly Secretariat. “The Speaker will be the right person to decide on that,” he added.