Tura, May 31: The announcement made by GHADC CEM Benedic R Marak to pay five months salary to the striking employees last week after a high level meeting with chief minister Conrad K Sangma and finance officials in Shillong has failed to turn the situation around as the Non-Gazetted Employees Association has stuck to their guns that nothing short of one year of pending salaries be paid under new scale if they are to return to work.

On Monday, a large number of NGEA members held a protest on the main Hawakhana road junction carrying banners and holding protest speeches against the move of the council authorities to pay just five months of pending dues when they have not been given their salaries for 34 long months.

“We are also human, we have families, people have died without pay,” were spoken by many angry striking employees who want the state government and the district council authorities to end this situation by giving the staff what is rightfully theirs.

“The chief minister, new CEM and Executive Committee have completely ignored and failed to respect the sentiments of the employees of GHADC by refusing to pay one year salary out of 34 months in new scale i.e. as per Meghalaya fifth pay commission which was duly approved by the previous EC led by NPP in April 2018. We are shocked and highly disappointed when Chief minister and CEM of GHADC is announcing through social media that five months salary will paid to employee of GHADC,” stated NGEA joint secretary Flaming B Marak in a press release to media on Monday.

The NGEA has also been angered by the district administration imposing Section 144 CrPC which prohibited them from gathering outside the council area to protest like they did in previous days and weeks.

The deputy commissioner imposed Section 144 to prevent any mass gathering after last week’s ruckus that took place in which officials were blocked by employees while leaving office and a lady protester injured herself after one official drove through the blockade.

The violation of the prevention of epidemic Act in a time of covid pandemic has also been cited in the DC’s decision to prevent gatherings.

However, the striking employees turned up in large numbers on Monday at Hawakhana road junction and despite rainy weather took part in their daily protest.

The NGEA has announced that they will continue to protest and will not accept the five months salary disbursement being prepared by the authorities.

In a new development, the NGEA has also announced that it will no longer join talks with the CEM Benedic R Marak even if invited until and unless the demand for the release of salaries is fulfilled.

“The Secretary of NGEA stated that they will not adore Mister Benedic Marak and will never come for talk even if he invite us unless the demand for the release of salary is fulfilled.