1,25,255 Employees on Nagaland Govt Payroll
As per the Schedule Indicating the ‘Total Expenditure on Salaries and Allowances’ of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Budget’ (2019-20) a total of 1,25,225 which is 6.32% of the State’s population are currently on the payroll of the Nagaland State Government and it is not surprising that Civil Police followed by School Education (23,972) leads the top ten employers in Govt Sector in Nagaland. 26,803 is the number of employees in the civil police, the salary of which comes to Rs. 1,261.47 crore per annum while 23, 972 is the number of employees in the department of School Education, the salary of which comes to Rs. 1,421.72 crore per annum. This number will inflate if higher education, Technical Education and SCERT is added to the equation.
The salary of these 1,25,225 employees accounts for 53% of non-development expenditure spent on salaries at Rs. 5,406.73 crore which is nearly 30% of the total state expenditure. If clubbed together with pension at Rs 2.007.83, then the total salary payment rises to Rs 7,413.93 crore or 73.06% of non-development expenditure. Added to this the ‘ways and means Advances from RBI’ amounting to Rs 3,200 crore increases the non-developmental expenditure for 2019-20 bringing the total to Rs 13,347.16 crore. Thus out of the total expenditure for 2019-20 estimated at Rs 18,026.11 crore, only Rs. 4,678.95 crore is left for development purposes.
While this is the estimated position on expenditure which also suggests that things may not improve or rather remain the same, one may see the percentage of money spent on payment of salaries which is 53% of non-developmental expenditure.
Payment of salaries has been a major concern especially for various groups of employees, which is a problem that has emerged out of numerous factors. And the present situation has only created a scenario where it will become more difficult for the Government to pay the salaries of the employees in the face of the need for more employment in various sectors especially School Education and Higher Education. Within this strain, the need for quality education has always been a major concern and a greater responsibility rests on the community of teachers, and who are also at the forefront of various issues. At the disposal of the teachers are the numerous students who are the ‘long term returns’ for the huge amount of non-developmental expenditure incurred for the students’ education. This is the other side of developmental expenditure, where its positive or negative results are contingent upon the performance of the students and the teachers. On the flip, One may also give a thought about the many forms of ‘ghosts employees’ who area just enjoying salary but with no returns which then is the end of the non-developmental expenditure.
Thus, the other side of developmental expenditure is a serious concern not just for the estimated 53% of non-development fund being spent on payment of salaries which is topped by Civil police and closely followed by School Education and so on numbering 1,25,255 employees. The concern and which also raises a serious question and one that needs to be seriously pondered upon is whether the investment is worth the returns. Also, there is a need for creating a mentality where the best in a given situation is exploited by focussing on the half full glass of water rather than the half-empty.
Both the development as well as the non-development expenditure needs to be properly monitored at all levels of activity towards ensuring that both bring desirable returns.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com.)
