SHILLONG, Nov 19: At one end where local MDC of Sohra, Titos Chyne, has urged the state government to release the salaries and arrears of the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) employees, on the other, the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Employees’ Union (MCCEU) is all set to intensify its agitation over pending salaries among other issues related to the MCCL.
On Thursday, too, the Union organised a poster and signature campaign in front of the MCCL factory in Mawmluh.
The Union will organise a rally from MCCL to Sohra, Mawmluh area on Saturday and the employees will also stage a dharna at the main gate of MCCL on November 24. Also, on November 26, there will be an indefinite hunger strike at the main gate of the company.
The Union has requested the government to turn its attention to the MCCL and initiate necessary revamping measures that will benefit the staff and establishment in the long run.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, president of the union, Shanlang Diengdoh, said the main issue is the delay in paying salaries of the staff. “The delay in releasing salaries has put the employees in a difficult situation. We request the higher authorities to pay the dues so that the employees can eke out a living,” he said.
Speaking about the factory, Diengdoh said the Union wants to see the plant function like in its heydays.
“We want the factory operations to continue. If there is no production, it will affect the employees’ livelihood at large,” he said, while adding that besides salaries there are many other dues as well.
“There were discussions to have the government run the plant but many obstacles were encountered and failures too. We want the plant to work, and we leave it to the wisdom of the state government, management and the stakeholders”, he said, while also stressing that the identity of the union should be upheld.
On the other hand, Chyne, who is also the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM), expressed concern over the employees coming out on the streets to demand for their salaries, which is pending for 15 months.
He said that the government should turn its attention to the employees and give them relief.
Maintaining that the state government should run the company, which has been facing numerous hurdles for the past many years, Chyne said that the action on the part of the management to opt for a PPP mode may or not be appropriate, but observed that it should get 100 per cent consent of the stakeholders — Mawmluh Elaka and Hima Sohra.
Chyne claimed that many still approve of the government to continue running the MCCL.
“What is the problem of the state government to run the new project which suffered due to the apathy of the management? The government’s inadvertance led to the current situation”, he said.