Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 09 2009:
In yet another case of discrepancy, some departments have been drawing salaries in collusion with the Treasury without furnishing updated information to the Finance Department.
These departments include those which have completed MGEL compilation as well as those for which MGEL compilation is yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, under instruction of the Chief Minister, the Finance Department has begun to work out the necessary procedures to avail the recommendations of the 6th Finance Commission to State Government employees.
A reliable source said that the Finance Department issued conditional certificates to departments every two months enabling employees of different departments to draw salaries.
However, deviating from the normal procedure, some departments have been drawing salaries bypassing the Finance Department in cahoots with the Treasury.
Staff of Imphal East District Supply Officer (DSO) drew their salaries for the month of January after the office was given conditional certificate in the same month.
But after this, the staff of the DSO have not been updating their MGEL information to the Finance Department.
The Imphal East Deputy Commissioner has not been updating for MGEL.
Some other Deputy Commissioners too, have not been updating their MGEL data at Finance Department.
The Police Department is also included among those departments drawing salaries without updating MGEL information, mentioned the source.
The last time Finance Department issued conditional certificate to the DC and staff of Tamenglong district was in 2007 .
Since then, the DC and the staff have not updated their MGEL information though they have been drawing salaries all this time.
Except for Education (S), compilation of MGEL for most other departments have been completed.
The department is still facing problems in drawing up MGEL.
On the other hand, the Finance Department, under instruction from the Chief Minister, has begun to work out the process implementating the recommendations of 6th Pay Commission to State Government employees.
At the beginning, the State Government would be incurring 60 percent more expenditure in paying salaries and other benefits under the new pay system.
Against Rs 1091 crores spent by the Government in paying salaries to its employees during the last fiscal, it is estimated that the State Government would require Rs 1745 crores in paying salaries if the new pay system is implemented.
If the 13th Finance Commission can finalise the amount to be awarded to the State by next month and the same is approved by the Union Cabinet by the end of this year, employees of the State Government may get salaries in tune to the recommendations made by the 6th Pay Commission from the early part of next year.