Tura, Sept 22: A meeting between the employees and the Reforms Sub-Committee of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, tasked by the government to bring about a solution to the ongoing protests over salary disbursement, ended in stalemate on Monday with the workers refusing to accept the release of ten months pending salaries.
The Reforms Sub-Committee had convened a meeting with members of the Non-Gazetted Employees’ Association (NGEA) of the GHADC to deliberate on the issue of pending salaries of council employees.
This meeting follows a series of prior engagements by the Sub-Committee with the Executive Committee MDCs, MDCs from both ruling and opposition parties, and representatives of various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), aimed at finding a comprehensive solution to the matter.
During today’s discussion, the government presented a proposal to the NGEA employees, seeking to address concerns regarding the council’s autonomy and independence, while also focusing on the urgent matter of salary disbursements.
Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Vibhor Aggarwal, who is the Chairman of the Reforms Sub-Committee, expressed the government’s commitment to expedite the release of pending salaries and assured that all concerns raised during the meeting will be compiled and forwarded to the state government for immediate consideration. He further stated that the employees’ points and concerns would be duly conveyed to the government, along with a recommendation to expedite the disbursement of salaries. In addition, a detailed report of the meeting will be prepared and submitted without delay, so that the state government can initiate the necessary follow-up action.
Though the striking employees welcomed the proposal, underlining the pressing need for regular and stable salaries, both in terms of clearing the arrears and ensuring timely payments in the coming months, yet they also reiterated the demand for disbursement of all their pending dues which have staggered to over 43 months. They also sought further assurances and clarifications on specific points, particularly on the powers and autonomy of the council, and added that their decision would be soon conveyed to the state government. More parlays with stakeholders on the issue are expected to take place in Tura, this week.
