Himanta Biswa Sarma: Salary of Assam Govt Officials in June will be "Difficult"

Guwahati, April 20, 2020:

Assam Finance and Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has spearheaded the state's fight against the coronavirus or COVID-19, has said that it will be "difficult" for the Government of Assam to pay its employees in June.

"In June, we need massive infusion of funds from outside the state's predictable resources. If you go by only state predictable resources, it will be difficult to reopen treasury in the month of June. He further said that the Government will have to go an "extra mile" in the month of June to offset the economic losses due to the shutdown.

Although the salary will be paid, it will be paid on the 7th or 8th of this month, said Sarma.

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The Minister also said that some economic measures will be announced on April 25-26.

Speaking on the lines of the Assam budget its the impact of the COVID-19 in its implementation, he said, "I will try to keep my budget intact". "In spite of hardship it is my duty as a budget Minister to keep my budgetary commitments intact", Sarma added.

The Assam Finance Minister furtyesterday morning, Nirmala Sitharaman called up and said that the Centre will "stand" with the states in the midst of the huge economic crisis that the nation has been confronted with.

Soon, a meeting of states' finance ministers will be held wherein these issues will be discussed, Sarma added.

Addressing mediapersons earlier this week, Assam health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state has managed to break the chain of COVID-19 pandemic as all the positive patients were in quarantine and there was no contact between the society and positive patients. "In first wave of the virus we have broken the chain by not allowing the virus to spread from a person to society. We have flattened the curve and are comfortably placed so far as first wave is concerned", he had said.

However, the economy is a trickier proposition, it seems.

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