Tura, Aug 8: Anger is brewing among hundreds of employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council over non-release by authorities of their monthly dues that have now touched a whooping 34 months.
Employees of the oldest democratic institution in the Garo Hills are holding a meeting on Thursday to decide what steps they intend to take to get their pending salaries and a possible indefinite strike from work is not being ruled out.
Council sources told The Meghalayan Express that authorities have not taken any concrete steps to rectify the problem. They allege that revenue obtained from sale of land deeds, rent and weekly market auctions and even the annual tax on land are being misused by those in power leaving the council coffers close to empty.
This has impacted regular disbursement of salaries. Instead of monthly payouts to the employees, council authorities began releasing pay after gaps of four to six months. But the disbursement was never total. In place of six months dues, authorities would release 1 to 2 months salary leading to a huge accumulation of the employees salaries.
Agitated employees say an indefinite strike is expected to be called as early as next Monday, unless authorities resolve the crisis. The unpaid staff is skeptical authorities have the resources or will release their entire dues given the past experience in which, at best, they had to be contended with payment of a mere 3 to 5 months dues.
