The Non Gazetted Employees’ Association (NGEA) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) met the newly-elected Chief Executive Member, Benedict Marak, yesterday over the issue of their pending salaries as well as the removal of the current GHADC secretary, Rikse Marak.
Following the meeting and the negative response they received from the new CEM, the NGEA has decided to continue with its no pay-no work protest until they receive written assurances that they will be paid their 33 months’ worth of wage arrears.
Benedict had earlier promised to only accept a token Rs 1 as salary until that of the GHADC employees are cleared.
“We met the CEM and were disappointed when he refused our demand for the removal of Rikse as we cannot cooperate and work with her. In fact, he expressed his desire to allow her to continue in the role. He has also not assured us of the payment of our 33 months’ pending salaries,” said Flaming Marak, the NGEA joint secretary.
The NGEA added there were more capable officers that knew more of the GHADC and had the will to solve the problems of the council. Furthermore, the appointment of the secretary was only for six months but her term was extended without due process, they claimed.
According to the NGEA, the new CEM requested them to resume work without providing any assurance of their salaries being released.
“How long will we work without food? To work we need strength, to get strength we need proper food and to have proper food we need money and to have money we need salary,” said Flaming.
The NGEA added that it has decided to continue to abstain from work until a written assurance from Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Benedict is given.
Rubbishing reports that 70 per cent of employees were ready to work and it was the NGEA that was proving to be a roadblock, the association stated it was not only them but the entire workforce, particularly the non-gazetted employees, who are unwilling to resume work.
“We had high expectations from the new executive committee but are discouraged and disappointed after formally having a talk with the new CEM. We have lost trust even in the new executive committee of the GHADC. There is little hope that the new EC will address the grievances of employees, particularly in clearing the long pending salaries,” he asserted.
