Assam CM, ministers, MLAs to take 30% pay cut for one year
Guwahati: Following the centre’s decision to cut 30 per cent salary of the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers of the Union government, all MPs for one year to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Assam cabinet on Tuesday has decided to deduct 30 per cent of the salary of the Chief Minister and other members of the State Council of Ministers and the MLAs for a period of one year.
The state cabinet chaired by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal decided that, the fund thus accrued will be used for the treatment and management of COVID-19.
The Assam cabinet also decided that the state government would not pass any directives regarding lockdown and the center directives on lockdown would continue keeping social distancing norms intact.
The Assam government would hold a meeting of its Council of Ministers on April 12 after receiving guidelines regarding relaxation of lockdown from the central government and decisions would be taken in the meeting about continuing lockdown in the State.
The Deputy Commissioner of all districts of the state would have to maintain social distance while implementing Central Government directives on lockdown.
The state cabinet also decided to bring employees of all departments engaged in the frontline against Coronavirus outbreak like Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC), Power department etc under the insurance scheme of Rs 50 lakh along with the health and police department officials.
According to the official statement of the state government, in its last meeting held on 30 March decision was taken to dispense Rs 1000 one-time relief to the poor beneficiaries who don’t have cards under National Food Security Act.
“However, effecting a slight change in its last decision, the meeting decided to allot Rs 1000 to 150 families instead of 100 families in each Village Panchayat inhabited by 5 thousand or fewer people, Rs 1000 to 200 families instead of 150 families in each Village Panchayat inhabited by 5000 to 10000 people, Rs 1000 to 250 families instead of 200 families in each Village Panchayat inhabited by 10000 people or more, Rs 1000 each to 300 families in each Village Panchayat areas inhabited by 10000 to 15000 people, Rs 1000 each to 350 families inhabited by 15000 to 25000 people, Rs 1000 each to 300 families instead of 250 families in each ward of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and to Rs 1000 each to 150 families instead of 100 families to other town committees of the state. Village Panchayat presidents or members, Anchalik Panchayat members and Zila Parishad members or their family members would not be eligible to receive financial assistance, irrespective of possessing or not possessing a National Food Security Act (NFSA) card. State government would ensure the authenticity of the beneficiary list,” the state government’s official statement said.
The Assam cabinet also decided that, the concerned departments would ensure regular monthly disbursals of financial assistance to beneficiaries under the Kushal Konwar Old Age Pension Scheme.
