Guwahati (Assam): Irrespective of the government, which will occupy Dispur on May 2 will have to pay three instalments of unpaid dear allowance of about 5 lakh government employees.
In a word, the government that is in power for the last five years still owes more than 5 lakh government employees. The government is yet to pay two instalments to the employees that are supposed to be paid in January and July every year.
According to the sources of the finance department, the government has to pay a total of three instalments to employees including January instalments of this year besides two instalments of January and July last year. As a result of which, the new government, which will occupy the throne of Dispur on May 2, will have to pay these three instalments.
It may be mentioned that Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma is often seen claiming that Assam's financial condition is in a very good condition. Hence, in that case, the big question that comes is as to why the government could not pay three instalments to the employee.
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Assam's economy was almost destroyed in the past during the AGP government. Even when Congress took over the reins of state from AGP in 2001, there was not a single penny in the government treasury. Assam was under the burden of debt. At that time, the Reserve Bank had to stop financial transactions due to overdraft. This was then that Congress took over the power.
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In view of the devastating economic situation in the state at that time, many prominent economists at that time advised the government to stop the dear allowance of state employees. The government however provided the allowance to employees after the financial situation gradually became stable.
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Hence, it is a matter of concern as to why the present Government, which claims to be in a good financial position, cannot pay as many as three instalments of dear allowance.
