SHILLONG: The employees’ association of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) is on the verge of launching an indefinite strike due to the authorities’ failure to address their long-standing salary issues. The Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA), at the forefront of this struggle to secure payment for the past 30 months, has called for a meeting on Monday to discuss the unmet demands despite ample time given to authorities.
Reports from the local press suggest that the district council plans to release only two months’ worth of overdue salaries as immediate relief, with another two months’ worth slated for December. This falls short of the 31-month backlog the employees are grappling with.
The root cause of this problem appears to be the district council’s inability to secure funds from the state and central governments. The primary revenue source for the council, royalties from major and minor minerals through the state government, has dwindled due to advance repayments and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat-hole coal mining in the state.
In late August, a delegation from NGEA, led by President Brithen M Sangma, met with Chief Executive Member (CEM) Albinush Marak and his executive committee, urging the release of employees’ pending dues. The delegation highlighted the dire circumstances faced by lower-ranked employees, some of whom have resorted to borrowing for survival and are even forced to withdraw their children from school due to unpaid fees.
If the strike proceeds, it could potentially disrupt the operations of the district council and have a significant impact on Garo Hills, as the GHADC handles all land documents and related payments. As September commences, the outstanding salaries have reached 31 months.
