From Our Correspondent
TURA, Sep 25: GHADC employees, protesting over their pending salaries under the banner of the Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA), have once again rejected the government’s offer of 12 months’ salaries as well as its proposed regular disbursal from November and decided to go on with their ongoing protest until all 44 months’ pending salaries are released.
“Yesterday we discussed regarding the order for disbursal of 12 months’ salaries and again today we had an in-depth discussion and have taken a strong resolution that we cannot accept the salary for 12 months only. What we need is our dues to be paid for 44 months. We have decided to go on with our demand for 44 months’ salary and will not cease our agitation until our demand is met,” NGEA president Brithen Sangma said on Thursday.
With regard to the government’s offer to release salaries regularly from November, Brithen said that too could not be accepted, the reason for which had been clarified by them many times earlier.
“If the state is going to give us our salaries monthly, they should clearly mention it in writing on what manner it is going to be done. If they do so, we may be able to accept it,” he said.
Brithen pointed out that many organisations and citizens of Garo Hills were against the idea (salary payment by government) as they claim to see some hidden agenda behind the government’s stance. However, he added that if, as per their demand, the government clarifies on paper their intentions and assures them that no harm would be done to the district council, they might be willing to accept the offer.
Brithen also claimed that during the discussions held between them, the Deputy Commissioner, the Sub Committee and officials of the GHADC, at the Tura Circuit House on Wednesday, some statements made from the government’s side on the payment of salary varied from what Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had assured earlier.
“In the course of discussions, we found certain variations in statements made by the Deputy Commissioner, the Sub Committee and the GHADC officials. This has raised apprehensions within us about the future, and we have to consider from different perspectives, be it a matter of payment of monthly salaries, or District Council reforms,” he said.
Meanwhile, alleging that a format agreeing to accept the government’s offer of 12 months’ pending salaries had been created by some vested interest employees, Brithen warned of action against them.
“There is a section amongst us, who are ready to take the 12 months’ salary being offered and we have seen a format being prepared wherein those willing to take their 12 month salary are being made to sign. We strongly object to the format prepared in the name of NGEA which is against its aspirations and as per our discussion today, we have decided to take legal action over this matter,” he informed.
Clarification on GHADC funding issue
Chairman of the Council Level Review Committee (CLRC), GHADC, Ashahel D Shira, through a press communiqué on Thursday evening, clarified that there is no official communication from the Centre or state government regarding the release of MoS-linked funds.
The clarification comes in the wake of allegations by Tura MDC Bernard Marak of the receipt of over Rs 300 crore linked to proposals made by the GHADC Forest department that was apparently released to the state but was never received by the Council.
The funds were, as per Bernard, a part of the Agreed text for Settlement reached between the Centre, state and the ANVC groups.
Shira asserted that until such official communication is received, no claim about these funds should be treated as confirmed.
