Tura, Sept 22: The subcommittee constituted to address the financial crisis in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Monday held a meeting with the Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA) at the Circuit House, Tura.
The meeting, chaired by Vibhor Agarwal, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, discussed the government’s proposed bailout plan aimed at resolving long-standing challenges, particularly unpaid salaries.
The subcommittee also included prominent figures such as Father Januarius Sangma, Reverend Frithing D. Sangma, retired MCS officer Charming N. Sangma and Tura Municipal Board CEO J. R. T. Sangma.
The NGEA delegation was led by president Brithen M. Sangma and Timtim N. Sangma, along with other members.
During the discussions, employees expressed concerns about maintaining the autonomy of the council, fearing that the bailout might undermine its independence. The Deputy Commissioner assured them that these concerns would be addressed, easing some of the apprehensions.
Despite these concerns, employees broadly welcomed the bailout proposal, viewing it as a long-awaited step toward stability. For many, the issue is not only about clearing pending salaries but also ensuring a secure and regular payment system in the future.
He stressed that the primary concern raised was the autonomy and independence of the council. “We assured them that the state has no intention of impinging on the council’s autonomy, which has been reiterated many times before,” he added.
The Deputy Commissioner noted that employees, who have suffered due to irregular payments, are seeking both stability and assurance. “It is not just about the pending salaries but also about securing future payments. In general, the employees seemed happy with the proposal,” Agarwal said.
He further stated that the NGEA would deliberate internally before responding, and their points will be conveyed to the state government. “All their concerns will be forwarded to the state for clarification in a more concrete manner, and a report will be sent soon so that the state can initiate its processes,” he said.
When asked about the rumor that employees are rejecting the 12-month salary bailout and demanding clearance of the 44-month backlog, the DC said, “They did mention past salaries, but ultimately there was no discussion in the meeting about rejecting any specific proposal. Their primary concern is the pending salaries. We have assured them that this proposal will be forwarded to the government to see how the pending salaries can be expedited,” he added.
Agarwal assured that all points raised by the employees will be forwarded to the state government for necessary action. A formal report will also be submitted to help initiate the required processes.
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