TURA, March 10: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) employees, under the umbrella of Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA), on Wednesday began their hunger strike, bemoaning that the authorities continue to turn a deaf ear to their demands for release of salaries.
It may be mentioned that the staffers had not only boycotted their duties but have also been staging a sit-in outside the Council since March 3 in protest against the non-release of salaries.
“We have been boycotting our duties in protest against the failure of the authorities to release our pending salaries since February 18. However, we have been completely ignored and the state government has remained silent. So we have decided to continue our hunger strike until our demand is achieved,” president of the NGEA, Senora Johny Arengh, said.
The first round of the protest in the form of the hunger strike will take place between 10 am and 5 pm till Friday.
The agitating employees have, meanwhile, threatened of resorting to indefinite hunger strike from Monday next week if the authorities continue to close brush aside the demands.
“We will not allow the elderly or those with health problems to participate in the hunger strike. However, we welcome organisations, local groups and citizens who are willing to take part in the protest,” secretary of NGEA, Brithen M Sangma, said.
Control room in EGH
In view of the upcoming GHADC polls, the East Garo Hills deputy commissioner has set up a Complaint Monitoring and Control Room at his office.
A statement from the DC has also asked the citizens to lodge their election-related complaints at Control Room No.7.
Model code of conduct
The West Garo Hills District Magistrate has enforced the Model Code of Conduct across the district to ensure smooth, free and fair conduct of the election process.
A similar prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC has also been issued for South Garo Hills.
It may be mentioned that the Model Code of Conduct is also in place in other districts of Garo Hills including East Garo Hills, North Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
