The Meghalaya government has decided to defer the payment of a part of the salaries of cabinet ministers, bureaucrats, and 80,000 employees to fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the state, according to a government notification.

The notification stated that half of the salaries of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, his cabinet colleagues, and all ranks of IAS, IPS, and IFS will get deferred.

A part of the gross salaries of All India Servicesofficers on deputation to the state will also be deferred, said Chief SecretaryMS Rao.

The decision was taken in view of the unprecedentedsituation arising due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Further, the consequentlockdown is likely to slow down the national and the state economies, the chiefsecretary said.

It was, therefore, necessary to put in placeexpenditure control and cash management systems so that resources are availablefor effective management of the Covid-19 situation, he said.

Accordingly, the measures were taken with regard tothe salaries for April, which will be paid in May, and May, which will be paidin June, Rao said.

The government said there will be a deferment of 35 percent in the gross salaries of Group A and B officers, and 25 percent in respect of Group C staff of all departments, except the officers and staff of the Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Group C employees of the departments of Home (Police) and Home (Civil Defence and Home Guards).

"The proportion of the deferment in salaries for Group A, B, and C employees indicated above will also be applicable to all the institutions being provided Grant-in-aid (Salary) by the State Government except for Group C employees of the Municipal Boards," the notification said.

The government has decided that there will be nodeferment in payment of salaries to Group D employees and payment of pensions.

Meghalaya has reported 12 cases of Covid-19 so far andof them, one person has died.