August assurance by energy corporation
SHILLONG: The contract workers, or jugalis, of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) demonstrated in front of the MeECL gate on Monday.
The candidates who are awaiting their appointment letters from the State Government for the last six months were enraged when MeECL chairman and managing director P.S Thangkhiew refused to meet them.
It may be noted that MeECL had declared as many as 772 candidates for the post of jugalis in the power department.
The appointments are said to be done on a phase manner-336 appointments under phase-one, 233 appointments each for phase-two and phase-three.
However, MeECL secretary Debojit Warjri assured the delegation that appointment letters will be issued to all qualified candidates before August. He said the delay was due to police verification.
Speaking to reporters, KHNAM-SYW president Thomas Passah said they would intensify the stir if MeECL failed to keep the assurance.
“The MeECL will be held responsible if the agitation intensifies,” he said.
Commenting on the police verification process that led to the delay in appointment, Passah said, “The Centre had on April last year decided to do away with the police verification before giving appointment letters.”
The candidates were supported by the KHNAM youth wing who were also present during the protest.
Criticising the CMD for allegedly warning the jugalis against taking part in the protest, Passah said, “This is nothing but to silence their rights. It seems public servants are behaving like masters over the public.”