Tura, Sept 13: All hope of a solution to the lingering problem of salary disbursement in the GHADC were dashed on Friday after talks collapsed between the Executive Committee and the employees who have been on three weeks long protest strike.
Chief Executive Member Albinush Marak had made attempts to break the deadlock by reaching out to church leaders and social organizations, including an invitation for talks with the leaders of the agitating Non-Gazetted Employees Association, this week.
But, two days of talks failed to break the ice.
The employees want nothing short of the 5th pay scale for disbursement of their salaries that have been pending for 34 long months.
The Executive Committee running the council say it is not possible given that the GHADC is facing a severe financial crunch for years leading to delays in salary disbursement. The council wants to provide the new pay scale from January of 2025.
“The promise to provide for 5th pay was passed by the previous EC in 2018 but they failed to deliver it and clear the backlog. But when my EC took over in April 2021, we have made all efforts to mobilize funds to ensure the long pending backlog of dues are first cleared. Today we have cleared a total of 37 months in salary disbursement,” pointed out CEM Albinush Marak while addressing the agitating employees at the Tura Govt College field.
The CEM had initially held a high level meet with church leaders, social and student groups and representatives of the striking employees inside his office chamber before coming to the field to appeal to the striking staff to resume their duties.
“Please understand that it is humanly impossible to clear the old pending dues and provide the new scale simultaneously due to the funds crunch, otherwise we wouldn’t hesitate to provide both the demands,” said CEM Albinush Marak.
He mentioned that there is no secrecy and those working in the GHADC are aware how much revenue is generated and deposited in the council treasury every day.
“Anyone can check and find out how much revenue from different departments are being deposited in the council treasury every day. I have always been open and transparent and have said, time and again, that my EC will do everything in our power to clear the pending salaries and fulfill what is genuinely due for our staff,” said CEM Albinush Marak as he appealed to the striking employees to return to work and clear necessary paperwork.
A host of others, including deputy CEM Nikman Marak, church leaders Rev Fr Janurius S Sangma (Don Bosco College Principal), Rev Friting D Sangma, Pastor of Hawakhana Baptist Church, student leaders Tengsak G Momin of the GSU and others also spoke at the public meeting aimed at breaking the deadlock.
“Nobody can go back on what has already been assured to you (staff) and passed by the council. All we ask is two to three months for us to set the house in order. We have to honour what has been passed by the previous EC. But no one will come to our rescue, neither state or centre. We will have to generate our own revenue to provide the new pay scale,” advised Dy CEM Nikman Marak.
Both church leaders, Father Janurius and Rev Friting, made a fervent plea to the two sides to be flexible and find a common ground in the interest of Garo Hills.
With no headway made despite two rounds of talks, all eyes would now be on what steps the EC plans to take, and how rigid the striking employees will remain.
