SHILLONG: Normal functioning of government offices and financial institutions in the State capital was paralysed due to the office picketing called by the various pressure groups demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya.
Keeping up with the ‘prevailing norm’, government employees ignored the directive of the State Government to attend office on Tuesday.
A visit to the Secretariat revealed that only bunch of employees made it to the usually busy power house of Meghalaya that wore a deserted look.
According to Principal Secretary (Home), KS Kropha the attendance in the Secretariat and the Directorates of different departments in the city was around 15 per cent.
Unhappy with this poor response on part of the employees Kropha said the personnel department should look into the matter.
The picketing also took its toll on the financial institutions and Central Government offices across the city with most of them remaining closed throughout the day.
Most employees defy picketing in JH
Despite the boycott call, state government offices in West Jaintia Hills registered a 76 per cent turnout. Official sources informed that 80 per cent of the employees attended duty at the Deputy Commissioners’ offices in both East and West Jaintia Hills.
All Central Government offices including Post Office, BSNL beside others, however, remained closed on Tuesday.
16 per cent turnout in Nongstoin
The office picketing called by pro-ILP groups was largely successful in Nongstoin with only 16 per cent of the government officials attending work on Tuesday.
Financial institutions like the State Bank of India (SBI) besides the Post Office remained shut throughout the day causing a lot of inconvenience to the local populace.
Braving the diktat of the pressure groups, the BDO attended office and was conducting business as usual when KSU (West Khasi Hills) members came to the office to ask for his co-operation. Finding no choice, the BDO shut the office.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner West Khasi Hills District Sylvester Kharlyngdoh has imposed Sec 144 CrPC in the compounds of all the government offices in the district on Thursday.
Pressure group members chase out employees in Ri Bhoi
Pro-ILP activists forcibly entered the office of the Meghalaya State Child Protection Society in Ri Bhoi and chased out the employees present. The office of the government institution that falls under the district social welfare was partially damaged in the incident. The activists also locked the district Sports Office after some employees attended their duties. Despite the incidents, government offices in Ri Bhoi fared better than East Khasi Hills with a 38 per cent turnout. (With inputs from our Jowai, Nongstoin and Nongpoh correspondents)
Poor attendance: Deborah to submit report to CM
SHILLONG: Displeased with the thin attendance in the Additional and Main Secretariats in the wake of the office picketing called by the ten pressure groups demanding immediate implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP), the Secretariat Administration Department Minister, Deborah Ch Marak said she will submit a report to the Chief Minister on the matter.
Marak did a surprise inspection of the Additional and Main Secretariats on Tuesday to take a firsthand note of the attendance and the minister was disappointed with the turnout.
“I did not expect that the office will be empty. The Secretariat is in the heart of the city and I am sure nobody will stop them (the employees),” said a visibly upset SAD Minister who has sought a report in this regard. The report will be submitted to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.