The Meghalaya government has released Rs 79.5 crore to clear a 12-month salary backlog for employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Tuesday. The funds have been deposited into an escrow account to ensure that payments reach the affected workers promptly. Of the total allocation, Rs 11 crore represents outstanding dues owed directly to GHADC employees, while the remaining Rs 68.5 crore has been provided as an advance against future royalty payments, ensuring continued financial stability for the council’s staff. The move comes after prolonged delays that had left employees awaiting their full salaries for an entire year.
In addition to addressing the salary backlog, the state cabinet approved the Meghalaya State Education Commission Report 2025. The Education Department has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the commission’s recommendations and formulating a roadmap for implementation. A final decision on adopting the report’s proposals will follow the department’s assessment. The cabinet also sanctioned organizational structures and staffing norms for technical, financial, and social services across the state’s municipalities, in line with directives from the central government, through the Meghalaya Municipal (Technical, Financial and Social Service) Rules, 2025.
Other approvals included amendments to the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws (3rd Amendment) 2025, aimed at modernizing land management and simplifying building permissions, potentially increasing property values, as well as changes to the Meghalaya Health Service (Academic) Rules, 2025, reflecting the state’s focus on governance reforms and service delivery.