The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday said the financial condition of Sikkim was in ‘deplorable condition’ if the State faces a setback of Rs 354 crore while changing the date of pay commission arrears alone.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Tuesday had announced that arrears of fifth Pay Committee for government employees will be paid with effect from January 1, 2016 and not from January 1, 2017 as notified earlier.
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Addressing a press meet in Gangtok on Wednesday, SKM spokesperson Jacob Khaling said the SDF government did not even have an adequate financial strategy in 24 years of their governance.
He added that changing the date for payment of arrears alone has set the State back by Rs 354 crores – a huge amount of fund which could have been used for developmental projects, he said.
He also condemned the announcement to release the arrears in three annual installments.
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The SKM laid out a series of probable financial returns that the State deserves from power projects, pharmaceutical companies, cosmetic companies, online lotteries, casinos, online gaming, government hotels on leases, returns from the high tourist arrivals and questioned the returns from all these sectors.
Pledging to have a fresh review of the 5th Pay Committee if voted to power during the ensuing Assembly elections, Khaling labelled the decision made by the State government as merely a reactionary measure to the issue on payment of arrears raised by the SKM president P S Golay since his return to politics.
The SKM spokesperson also said their party, if voted to power, will declare every Saturday of a month as ‘Care & Cure Holiday’. There will be five working days for the State Government employees, Khaling further added.