Shillong, Nov 26: The Meghalaya Joint Council of Trade Unions and Associations today adopted a special resolution to urge the state government to declare all local holidays of the tribal communities in the state as paid holiday in all central PSUs and financial institutions in the state under Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act.

General secretary of MJCTU&A, J.L. Das informed the members present that the special resolution will be sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya to declare all local holidays of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills districts as paid holiday under the NI Act in all central PSUs and financial institutions.

President of the MJCTU & A, Dr. M.N. Bhattacharjee said that banks were not given any holidays on account of important days/festivals of the locals. “We want local holidays to be declared and be covered under the NI Act. We do not want any disturbance. We do not want the social fabric to be hampered”, he said.

Recently, the Khasi Students Union, a pressure group have closed down banks and other offices that were found to be open during the Seng Kut Snem and Shad Nongkrem. Some of the local holidays in the state are U Tirot Sing Syiem day, Shad Nongkrem, Seng Kut Snem, Shad Suk Mynsiem etc.

The demonstrative meeting also extended support to the country wide general strike conducted on Thursday. Bhattacharjee said that the main demand of the union has been to control the high price rise of essential commodities. He said that the government should control price rise and also claimed that Farmers Bill is also responsible for price rise.

“PDS system should also be strengthened and to include more items in the system”, he said.