Shillong, Sept 11: Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh said the state sports council (SSC) is in the process of finalizing a revenue generation model in its endeavor to sustain financially.

The revenue generation model will be put in place for all sports infrastructure and their usage by the associations, educational institutions, various sports clubs and the public.

“The council has also prepared for approval of the government new rates to paid by those who wish to use the sports infrastructure and this will eventually tide over the financial constrains with regard to payment of wages to the casual employees,” Banteidor told the Assembly on Wednesday.

He was replying to a zero hour notice moved by Congress legislator from East Shillong Ampareen Lyngdoh on the issue related to the strike called by the casual employees of the SSC.

The minister said from the records available in the SSC, 44 of 93 casual employees have gone on strike without informing the competent authorities. The remaining 49 others are attending their duties as usual.

He informed the council has received a petition of the casual employees and the same has been taken note of.

According to him, the council has prepared the agenda for the annual general meeting which will be convened this financial year to discuss the various issues pertaining to the council including the wages of the casual employees.

“The process of increasing their wages as per notification issued by the labour department, will be placed before the annual general meeting,” the minister said.

He said the council is an autonomous body and therefore has to depend on grant-in-aid from the government for payment of salary adding the revenue generated by the council cannot meet the required amount for payment of salary.

The casual employees are currently being paid at Rs 5,000 per month for performing works such as maintaining the cleanliness of the sports infrastructure five days a week and Rs 10,000 per month for those who are engaged as drivers.