By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A day after the Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) announced a twin agitation programme in protest against the State Government’s failure to meet its various demands including reinstatement of two casual employees of MUDA’s Byrnihat office, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh clarified that the department had offered to shift the two casual cleaners to the upcoming Nongpoh shopping complex after they were relieved from their services.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Lyngdoh said that she had discussed the shifting of the two causal cleaners, Hundalin Warjri and Sabita Lapang, with the RBYF but accused the NGO of unnecessarily resorting to agitation.
The RBYF had announced that it would follow up its recent night road blockade with office picketing and another round of night road blockade citing indifference on the government’s part in meeting its various demands.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh also pointed out that the casual employees were appointed against non-sanctioned posts and the exercise of trimming such employees was conducted in all the four MUDA offices across the State.
“It is difficult for the authority to justify the appointment of three cleaners for a two-room MUDA office (at Byrnihat) despite having a permanent cleaner. The appointment of employees has to be justified before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC),” the Urban Affairs Minister said adding that if anyone has any issue with the MUDA the party should take legal action instead of resorting to agitation.
The Minister also said that the order for discontinuing the service of the two casual employees was issued to the town planning officer on January 30 but the officer did not execute the same as she was threatened against it.
Concern over agitation
Even though majority of the people of Ri Bhoi District are rallying behind the RBYF in their demand for reinstatement of the two casual workers, many are concerned about the lingering agitation which has ‘held the district to ransom,’ Our Nongpoh correspondent adds.
The RBYF had announced fresh agitation programme — office picketing and night road blockade on Thursday and Friday.
Prominent youth leader and working president of UDP Ri Bhoi District, Rayonald Kharkamni, regretted that for the rights of two women the entire district is suffering.
“The concerned minister prefers to let the district suffer rather than bury her ego and reinstate them,” he said.
Nongpoh Areas Women Association (NAWA) president W K Blah said that even though the ongoing agitation of the RBYF has affected the day to day lives of the people of the district, the NGO’s demand can easily be met if the government wants.