TURA, June 14: The picketing of GHADC office by A Garo Hills-based group called Niksamso Garo Community Organization (NGCO), which began on Thursday, was called off midway after it decided to give the Council authorities 7 days’ time to call a meeting with various organisations from Garo Hills and make known their intentions on their various demands.
Members of the organisation on Thursday morning gathered at the GHADC premises and shut the main entrance denying entry to employees. The protesters were later met by authorities comprising Executive Members including Chief Executive Member Albinush Marak, who assured them that their demands would be looked into.
Following the meeting with authorities the NGCO decided to call off the office picketing for the time being albeit, not without conditions. The organisation has demanded that GHADC authorities invite all NGOs, civil societies, social activists and Nokmas and Sordars to hold a discussion on the various demands.
Some of the demands of the organisation include formulation of the Garo Customary Law, creation of a separate electoral roll, release of pending employees’ salaries and implementation of finance and service rules in the GHADC. After calling off the first day’s protest, members of the organisation held another meeting at Niwatram Resort at Rongram to decide on the future course of action to be taken.