Shillong, July 19: Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) leader, Angela Rangad on Monday staged a dharna in front of Meghalaya’s Secretariat holding placards to ensure that her demand for relief to daily wage earners is heard and acted upon immediately.

Rangad said that she has been compelled to take this extreme step since the government doesn’t understand that people are genuinely in distress.

She said that the financial assistance which was promised and which was spent in their (Daily Wagers) names has not reached them.

“And so now we also have no other way to make the government hear that people are genuinely in distress. Second wave of the lockdown has crushed everyone further; we are all in dire strait,”alleged Rangad.

Warning that this is only the first step, Rangad said there is going to be a rally/ dharna to remind the government of its responsibility.

Meanwhile, fearing a law and order breakdown after seeing Rangad’s peaceful protest, the police hurriedly secured the area. The guards at the Secretariat had to eventually close the gates as Rangad refused to move from the premises.

Government had last year announced an income support to daily wagers to help them through the lockdown during the first wave. Rs 2,100 is supposed to be given to taxi drivers, hawkers, domestic workers under the Chief Minister’s Relief Against Wage Loss (CMRAWL).

She has also demanded that the government should announce economic stimulus package, because it doesn’t help to just unlock now.