On Thursday, a huge crowd in Tura town, Meghalaya, demanded that the unpaid salaries of workers in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) be paid. The demonstration follows closely after the Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that the government would guarantee the timely payment of the salaries of employees of autonomous district councils beginning November 1. The announcement stated that arrears of five months were to be cleared before November, and then salaries were to be paid on time. The statement, however, did not cover the matter of 44 months of unpaid dues, leaving employees disgruntled.
This protest march was held by the Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA) of GHADC and was supported by the civil society organisations under the Joint NGOs Forum. Demonstrators were upset that the government scheme overlooked the old arrears that employees had been wrestling with since close to four years.
“This so-called historic decision will not include the 44 months we have already lost. And yet how can we live on promises when our families are hungry?” And he inquired of one demonstrator in the course of the procession. Another employee who stood out said, “We do not want to be charitable; we want what we have already deserved. A local Nokma also pointed out that the problem of clearing several months of pay would not solve the long-run financial problems of the workers and their families.
Students and young people came out in support of the march, highlighting the implications of the wider problem of the late payment of salaries. “This is concerning the nobility of our elders and our future. Our identity will be threatened in case the councils fail,” said a college student who was taking part in the demonstration.
The demonstration indicates that the GHADC employees and the local population are becoming frustrated, and thus, the government should act immediately.
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