SHILLONG : Meghalaya is again on the spot regarding its financial scenario, for failing to release payments of nurses, technicians and other staff who worked during the Covid- 19 pandemic. Amongst them, grade IV employees are also included such as cleaners, drivers and ward attendants.
These people have not received their monthly salary since past six months. However, Dr HC Lyndem, director of the Department of Health Services, informed that all salaries has been disbursed on 14th of December 2022.
The DHS director did not give any explanation for the long delay in payments. The issue of non-release of payments has been a major concern in Meghalaya. The employees claimed that, they couldn't even manage their basic necessities because of such a long delay in payment of their salaries.
There has been cases where employees are deprived of their payments since the month of July this year. The deprived employees informed that despite contacting people regarding the disbursal of salary, they didn't receive any sort of response. They also contacted the DC of WGH for the matter.
On November this year, the employees wrote to CM Conrad Sangma and also informed him about issue in person. However, no development was made till a month. They mentioned the problems faced by them during these six months.
One of the technicians added that, there are certain cases where the only bread earner is not paid timely causing extreme level of strain in their lives. Payment of school fees and day to day needs are hampered in the utmost ways. As the Holiday Season is approaching, the employees are now concerned about the consequences if they fail to provide for their families.
The employees have raised the question as to why is this problem not ending despite the state spending crores of money during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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