Meghalaya govt moves Rs 28.42 crore supplementary demand for immediate payment of liabilities

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Government has moved a Supplementary Demand in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly of an additional amount of Rs 28.42 crore for immediate payment of pending committed and anticipated liabilities proposed to be met under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant (CMSG).

As stated, the government required additional funds due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic due to which the government fell short of funds provided to them earlier citing the various expenditure relating to provision kits, community quarantine centres, transportation of stranded citizens, accommodation of Health workers.

The Meghalaya Government detailed on their paid liabilities and informed," An amount of Rs 3,13,38,505/- was paid towards the cost of Provision kits through the respective Deputy Commissioners."

An Amount of Rs 1,91,797 was spent for the purpose from Chief Minister’s Special Grant, Rs 10,46,55,124 to accommodate Medical and health care workers and an amount of Rs 50,000 announced to the next of kin of the deceased due to COVID -19 under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant, said the government.

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As anticipated liabilities, the government detailed -

(i) During 2020, the Government had arranged of transportation and refreshment of stranded citizens from across the country to ensure that our stranded citizens safely reach home. Towards this, the Government had incurred an expenditure of Rs 4,23,705/- payable to Meghalaya Transport Corporation towards transportation and refreshment

(ii) During 2021-22, the Government has also incurred an additional expenditure of

Rs 2,70,00,000/- (Two Crore Seventy Lakh) towards accommodation of Medical and health care workers.

(iii) During 2021-22, the Government has sanctioned Rs 5000/- to Community Covid Management Teams. However, 924 CCMTs (505 in East Khasi Hills and 419 in West Khasi Hills) are yet to be paid. Thus, the total pending liability is Rs 46,17,500/- (Forty Six lakh Seventeen Thousand Five hundred only)

(iv) An anticipated liability of Rs 3,72,00,000/- (Three Crore Seventy two lakh only) is pending as on 13th September 2021 towards ex gratia payment of Rs 50,000/- has been made to the next of kin of 744 COVID-19 deceased persons. This amount is likely to increase on a daily basis with an increasing number of daily deaths.

(v) Since the number of COVID-19 positive cases are increasing on daily basis, the distribution of Provision Kits to those under quarantine is also required to be continued. In this regard, it may be noted that as of 13th September 2021, the number of total COVID 19 reported cases stands at 78,359 Nos out of which active cases stand at 1859 nos. As such, we have anticipated Rs 5,00,00,000/- (Five Crore only) as committed liability for 2021-22.

(vi) In addition to the above, there will also be other contingent expenditures that will have to be met from the Chief Minister’s Special Grant.