NGEA boycotting GHADC polls will affect govt: GSU

TURA, Feb 18: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) has cautioned that if the Non Gazetted Employees’ Association (NGEA) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) happens to boycott the forthcoming Council polls, all will not be well for the state government.
In a letter to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, GSU (Mindikgre regional unit) president, Greneth M Sangma, said that “the time has come for the NPP to prove its mettle to the state that they do care and can do anything for the people”.
With regard to the unpaid salaries of the GHADC staff, Greneth said it was surprising that the “state government can borrow money left and right but cannot arrange to pay the salaries of the employees”.
“Should one call this inefficiency of the state government or mere apathy towards its own people,” Greneth asked.
Earlier, the NGEA of the GHADC had threatened of boycotting the upcoming GHADC elections if the state government fails to clear the royalty share and the pending salaries of the Council staff.
Condemnation
The A’chik Association for Protection of Environment has, meanwhile, condemned the allotment of party tickets to non-tribals to contest the upcoming polls.
In a statement issued here, the Association said, “As per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule, the GHADC belongs solely to the Garos and no other community can participate in its affairs or contest the elections. However, despite being cautioned not to involve them, certain political parties have not heeded our request and given party tickets to them.”
Exhorting various political parties to take into account the concerns before finalising the candidates for the upcoming elections, the Association warned that it would be compelled to boycott the polls if the request goes unheeded.