PWD staff denied sit-in protest permission

SHILLONG: The All Meghalaya Officiating Employees PWD Roads and Building Association were denied holding a sit-in demonstration as they did not obtain prior permission from the District Administration.
The association that comprises of Grade III and Grade IV adhoc and officiating employees of Public Work Department (PWD) in Khasi and Jaintia Hills who gathered at the Additional Secretariat parking lot but were intervened by magistrate R. Wahlang, who informed them that prior permission is mandatory before holding any form of protest.
After complying with Wahlang’s direction, the association members submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills through Wahlang to grant them permission to hold a sit in protest on March 29.
David Rapmai, general secretary of the association, while speaking to reporters said, “As with the ongoing Assembly session, the permission was not granted. We have sent a letter on March 14 but we did not receive any response.”
However, the association went ahead with the demonstration which was later intervened by the magistrate.
Rapmai said the demonstration was for the purpose of bringing to the notice of the State Government to address their plight and to reinstate their services after the termination of their services without prior notice.
He said, “95 per cent of the employees are over aged and some have been working for more than 30 years, it is unfeasible for us to look for other means of employment.”
Ropmai added that the employees have the right to continue the work and the department cannot drive the employees out of their service.