The Non Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA) has questioned the state government as well as Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, over the alleged delay in the payment of dues to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The NGEA through a release pointed out that during contempt hearings against the GHADC, a sum of Rs 15 crore from the Forest Department, Rs 20 crore from the Directorate of Mineral Resources and another Rs 20 crores from the Transport Department was due to the GHADC, which could have helped sort some part of the problems being faced by them.
Employees of the GHADC have not been paid for over 32 months now with the case of contempt being filed by the NGEA in the High Court of Meghalaya.
“In an additional affidavit filed by secretary to the GHADC, Rikse Marak, she has informed on this fact that Rs 55 crores is due to GHADC and letter seeking payment to the various departments were also produced. However, despite the gravity of the situation, there has been no reply from the concerned departments,” said the NGEA.
The amount due to GHADC is from the council’s share of royalties.
The NGEA also alleged that after sending these letters, the Secretary has not pursued the subject any further due to which payments are not being made and dues to employees cleared.
The NGEA additionally blamed the state government, particularly the CM, for not taking the issue faced by the employees seriously.
“Due to the lack of seriousness and due to inaction on parts of the GHADC Secretary, concerned departments and the state government, we are being deprived,” they alleged.
The employees added that it has been three years since they were last paid and, with the festival season approaching, they were in for a hard time.
“School fees, admission fees and basic necessities are things that are like a mountain to us now. The authorities concerned have no remorse of sympathy for us and instead of addressing our grievances, they have been exploiting the employees, particularly the leaders of the NGEA,” they alleged in a release sent today.
