Even though the State government has directed all government offices, revenue and magisterial courts and educational institutions in East Khasi Hills District to remain closed on account of Nongkren dance tomorrow, banks have not been included in the purview of the holiday order.
This has irked pressure groups who felt that the due respect is not being given to the traditional festival of the local people.
HYC general secretary, Roy Kupar Synrem in a statement said that they had sought information from the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation, Meghalaya State Unit and were told that the Under Secretary, GAD, Government of Meghalaya did not accept the request for a holiday.
“We will not allow the government to blatantly disregard our traditional festival and we will do the needful,” Synrem said urging banks and other offices to close down as a mark of respect.
He further also urged the government that holidays should be declared for banks on festivals like the Seng Kutsnem, Shad Suk Mynsiem, and other days revered by the people of the State like U Tirot Sing Day, Kiang Nangbah Day and others.
For the past many years, organisations like the Khasi Students Union (KSU) and the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) would compel banks to down their shutters.
It is expected that operations of banks might be stalled tomorrow as the State government has denied holiday for banks.
It may be mentioned that the Nongkrem Dance was declared a general holiday under the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act by the General Administration Department of the Meghalaya government.
