Unpaid for 10 months, employees of the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) today came out in huge numbers to take part in a sit-in protest outside the office premises in Jowai.
According to the JHADC Staff Association, the employees were not paid their pending dues since December 2022. Its president, Johnson Pohrmen said the protest is the first as they can no longer continue living without what is due and want the government to take note of their plight.
Pohrmen said the protest was held for a day not to disrupt the office hours. He said the employees love their job, but wants the government to address their issues so they could make ends meet.
He said the employees have not received even one per cent of the pay revision under the Fifth Pay Commission.
It may be mentioned that in June this year, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar during a meeting with the JHADC CEM, Thombor Shiwat and officials discussed about the pending salaries to the employees.
Dhar had said the government has not set a target date to release the salaries but would try to generate revenue from different sectors.