A banner declaring, “Demanding our pending salaries is our right, not politics. We are employees, not politicians,” set the tone in Tura on Thursday as the Non-Gazetted Employees’ Association (NGEA) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) stood firm on its demand for full salary clearance.
Rejecting outright the administration’s offer of five months’ salaries in exchange for calling off their protest, the NGEA said it would not settle for anything less than the payment of all pending dues. According to the association, the offer was conveyed on Wednesday through an order issued by the GHADC secretary.
The employees said they are unwilling to accept the offer and our protest will continue. They further asserted that their demand for the clearance of 44 months’ unpaid salaries remains unchanged.
The agitation, ongoing for over two months, has gained momentum with massive public support. Thursday’s rally in Tura saw active participation from opposition parties including the TMC and BJP, who stood beside the employees in their fight for justice. The demonstration also drew numerous civil society organisations and pressure groups, including the GSU, AHAM, ACHIK, AAYF, GSU NEHU Cell, ANYO, NGCO, APE, FKJGP, ADE, AYWO, and FAF, among others, highlighting the widespread support for the movement.
A large number of people thronged the streets of Tura, demanding the immediate release of pending salaries, turning the town into the epicentre of a mounting workers’ agitation in Meghalaya.
