MDCs to resume work today
TURA: The chief executive member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) met the agitating staff on Wednesday, a day after their talks fell through, and promised to clear nine months’ pending salary “provided the Council is allowed to function and necessary paper works are cleared”.
Official work was completely stalled as the GHADC staff’s indefinite strike entered its third day on Wednesday.
GHADC CEM Denang T Sangma’s assurance did not appease the staff who demanded proof before the strike could be called off. “We have clarified to them that we will seek a bailout from both the State and the Centre but for that to happen they must first allow us to enter the office and begin the necessary paper work,” said Sangma, who took strong exception to the move by the striking employees to lock the district council gates.
“They (the staff) said they were holding a non-cooperation movement by not attending work. We are aware of their grievances and have not forced them to return to their desks. We have only requested them. But they are using force by locking the gates and not allowing others to enter the office premises. This is not right,” said the CEM.
The CEM’s attempt to end the impasse on Tuesday with an assurance to clear three months’ dues had failed as the employees rejected his call for talks demanding nothing short of full payments for the last nine months.
The council executive committee has apprised the Deputy Commissioner about the situation and sought additional deployment of security personnel along with magistrates on Thursday as the elected members (MDCs) of the ruling EC plan to resume their office work.
Sangma expressed optimism that the financial situation could soon improve as the state government is reportedly planning to release fund from supplementary demand to be put up during the upcoming assembly session which begins by the end of this week in Shillong.