GUWAHATI: The employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya, who have endured nearly 31 months without receiving their salaries, have decided to stage a three-day strike commencing on October 10.
This decision came in response to the failure of council authorities to fulfill their assurance, as conveyed by Chief Executive Member Albinush Marak on September 18, to clear two months' salary arrears.
An employee revealed that two weeks ago, when the initial payments were meant to be disbursed, only a small fraction of employees who met the lowest eligibility criteria received their overdue salaries. This left many employees feeling frustrated and distressed. In response, the Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA) of the council has declared their intention to hold a three-day sit-in protest outside the council premises, starting on October 10.
The NGEA has stated that they will continue their protest until the Executive Committee fulfills its commitment to release two months' worth of salaries.
Brithen Sangma, the president of the NGEA, emphasized the dire circumstances facing employees' families due to the ongoing financial crisis. With no funds for essentials like food and school fees, their families are enduring significant hardships.
The employees expressed their frustration as Chief Executive Member Albinush Marak had given them assurance that their two months' outstanding salaries would be disbursed by the end of September. Nevertheless, as of the current date in the first week of October, the promised salary payments have not been credited, according to Sangma.
Earlier, it was declared in September that employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya will receive payment for only two months out of the accumulated 31 months of pending salaries.
Reports suggest that the two months' worth of salary for the numerous GHADC employees in Meghalaya will be disbursed during the ongoing week.
Allegedly, GHADC authorities in Meghalaya have informed the employees that the council lacks the financial resources to settle such a substantial backlog.
Albinush Marak, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of GHADC in Meghalaya, remarked, "At present, the district council does not possess the required funds to clear even 5 months' worth of unpaid salaries." He further stated, "We are uncertain about when we will receive the funds needed to address the extensive backlog of 31 months. It would be untrue to claim that we can pay 5 months when it is currently beyond our means."
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