Shillong, Sept 19:The vice president of Non- Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA), Demure T Sangmam has expressed doubt about the release of pending dues by GHADC.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Sangma said there was an announcement of CEM of GHADC on August 10 this year for the payment of three months’ salary and again on September 17 for payment of four months’ salary to the employees through various social media like whatsapp, facebook, instagram and others.
“Promising and announcing on social media for payment of regular salary to the employees of GHADC is nothing new and the CEM and the EC of GHADC have nothing to be proud about it.
The NGEA leader said it is still doubtful whether the promise will be materialised.
The employees under the banner of NGEA had been demanding the need to clear the dues from 2018 but till date the previous EC and the new EC led by NPP have not been able to do anything, Sangma said.
The NGEA said the employees of GHADC had been continuously fighting for justice by organising different forms of agitation demanding the release of monthly salary and implementation of fifth pay commission recommendations.
“Earlier, the chief executive member had invited various pressure groups, employees of GHADC and the leaders of NGEA on June 4 this year and during the public meeting, the CEM of GHADC had made a lot of promises to release the monthly salary for five months’ at once, and thereafter to clear the three months’ salary within two months in new scale, to implement the Meghalaya fifth pay commission, to conduct the local audit and to take legal action against previous MDCs who were found guilty of misappropriation of public fund, not to harass and terminate the employees of GHADC”, the NGEA leader said.
However, the promises made by the GHADC CEM were not fulfilled till date except payment of five months’ salary, Sangma said.
Hence, the NGEA executive members discussed the need to take a new course of action in a meeting held with strict maintenance of SOP in June about the issue of non-fulfillment of the promises and assurance made by the CEM and later, the Executive Committee and the Principle Secretary of GHADC decided to terminate and suspend the president of the NGEA and seven other members on the allegation of not following the SOP/Covid protocols.
Sangma said that Principle secretary and the EC of GHADC have no jurisdiction/power to take action against the leaders of NGEA and other employees for violation of Covid protocols as it is the deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills who can take action.
“In Shillong, when various NGOs were organising the rally, it was the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills who had issued show cause notice to the leaders of NGOs on alleged violation of Covid protocols but shockingly the EC and principal secretary of GHADC have terminated the service of the president of NGEA and suspended seven executive members on alleged violation of Covid protocols”, Sangma said.
He alleged that this was done with a mala-fide intention to suppress the voice of NGEA and prevent it from fighting for justice.
“The NGEA had been fighting not only for releasing the monthly salary but also against corruption, therefore the EC led by NPP could not digest the stand of leaders of NGEA, but our fight for justice will never go in vain”, Sangma said.
He clarified that prior to the suspension and termination of service of NGEA leaders, hundreds of people had gathered on the premises of GHADC without wearing mask and not maintaining social distancing but the principle secretary had not taken any initiative to ensure that the Covid protocols are followed.
“We had pointed out their fault in our reply to show cause notice”, Sangma said.
