From Our Correspondent
TURA, Oct 7: Unhappy with the manner in which the state government led by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is moving ahead with the resolution to GHADC salary crisis, prominent organisations from Garo Hills are likely to step up their protest initiatives from next week, in an effort to pressure the government to proceed in the right manner and direction.
Leaders of the organisations, which included the FKJGP, AYWO, ADE, FAF and the GSU led by Zikku Balgra, met West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Sub Committee, Vibhor Agarwal, to seek clarity on the recent statement made by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
According to FKJGP president Pritam Arengh, the chief minister recently informed the Assembly as well as the media in an interview that the issue of the Council would be solved shortly and that the state government is already working on giving the salaries of the employees for 12 months from November.
“We are seeking clarity on the statement of the chief minister. He has said that based on the reports of the Sub Committee, the government is beginning the process to give the salaries. However, we had made it clear from the beginning that while we appreciate the bailout package, which is absolutely necessary, the government must come clear on how it would be given,” Pritam said.
“It appears that the government is trying to forcefully implement its proposal. We have been opposing the proposal in every Sub Committee meeting as there is still no clarity. So, how come the chief minister is saying that the process (for salary payment) is under way based on the reports of the Sub Committee?” he added.
According to the FKJGP leader, a complaint in this regard has been voiced to the Deputy Commissioner, cautioning that the issue could blow up if the proposal is implemented forcefully. “However, we cannot sit idle and wait for the response from the government as there is barely 24 days left till November. We may have to sit and decide what course of action to take from Next week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pritam also expressed lack of confidence in the Sub Committee claiming that points raised by them during the Sub Committee meetings were not even written down in the minute records.
“Valuable points raised during our meetings were not even recorded. We were not even provided the minute records before today, when it was given only after we asked for it,” he said.
