SHILLONG, MAY 1: In a May Day announcement for muster roll workers, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the state government has approved their long-standing demand for Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), entailing an additional annual expenditure of ₹10 crore.
Speaking at the International Workers’ Day programme organised by the Office of the Labour Commissioner and the Meghalaya Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Sangma said the file was cleared on Thursday keeping in view the significance of May 1.
“I am happy to inform you that just yesterday, the government keeping in mind today’s importance… has cleared the file and we have approved the new VDA for the muster roll workers so that our muster roll workers can get the necessary benefits that they deserve,” the chief minister said.
Acknowledging the financial impact, Sangma said the decision was driven by social considerations.
“This will incur an additional amount of Rs 10 crore per year annually… but we believe that this additional amount of Rs 10 crore that is being shell out over and above of what already is being spent is for the benefit of the larger section of the society, the economic weaker section of the society,” he said.
“Hence it is something as a government keeping the social aspect in mind is something we must do,” he added.
The Chief Minister noted that the VDA approval would cover a wide base of workers.
“Therefore, we have taken this important decision and I am happy that this will benefit thousands and thousands of our muster roll and different workers who are working in different departments and different organizations also,” Sangma said.
VDA, linked to inflation, has been a key demand of muster roll employees in Meghalaya who are engaged in various departments on daily-wage terms.
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