TURA: A day after all attempts at reaching out to the protesting employees to withdraw their proposed ‘indefinite’ stir fell through with the non-gazetted employees going ahead with their protest, authorities in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council have issued an order that those who do not attend to work will not get paid.
The over two thousand non-gazetted employees began their indefinite strike from Wednesday refusing to accept the appeals by the council authorities to halt their stir.
“We had a long discussion with the leaders of the agitation, a day earlier, clarifying the situation to them and appealing for cancellation of their strike so that the offices can function smoothly since this is revenue collection season. Much of the revenue to be collected would ultimately go into payment of their pending dues, but it is unfortunate that they have refused to listen,” said GHADC Chairman Denang T Sangma who was part of a three member non-Executive Committee delegation that met with the leaders on the eve of the strike to try and reason it out with them.
The Chief Executive Member of GHADC ,Dipul R Marak, had, a day earlier, also issued a notification directing the employees to attend to their work.
“Two major annual festivals for Christians and Hindus, namely Christmas and Durga Puja, are fast approaching. If the indefinite strike continues then the collection of all sources of revenue will be stopped causing more financial problem to the GHADC even to meet the payment of salaries,”warned the CEM in his notification.
He added that the sale of Haats (markets) that begin from October would also be hampered causing delay in revenue generation.
With the striking employees turning down the plea of the council authorities, the NPP led Executive Committee held an emergent meeting on Wednesday afternoon where it was decided to go with the “no work, no pay” directive against the agitating employees.
“How can any establishment remain closed indefinitely. Offices have to function because hundreds of people concerned with council work are coming from far flung areas of Garo Hills everyday,” pointed out Chairman Denang T Sangma.
The Executive committee, in its emergent meeting, are also contemplating legal action against those allegedly “instigating” the employees to go on strike.
Council Chairman Denang T Sangma clarified that in the six months since taking charge of the GHADC, the NPP led EC headed by Dipul Marak had cleared four months of the employees dues.
“This included leave salary, gratuity and monthly salary,” he said.
With a notification directing officers and council judicial officers to attend to their work stations, there was some semblance of life in the otherwise empty corridors of the oldest autonomous body in Garo Hills.
“Officers attended and signed on the attendance register placed in the office of the CEM,” informed an MDC from the ruling dispensation.