The Shillong Times: Shillong: Tuesday, July 25, 2017.
The state
power corporation’s assurance on Monday to extend the merit list for the post
of linesmen by another three months failed to assuage the resentment of
protesting jugalis who vowed to continue their indefinite strike.
The
demonstration that started outside the gate of Meghalaya Energy Corporation
Limited (MeECL) on Monday was backed by the state youth wing of the Khun
Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM). Shortly after the protest
started, the chairman and managing director of MeECL, PS Thangkhiew, invited
the agitators for talks which, however, fell through.
Speaking to
media persons after the meeting, KHNAM youth wing president Thomas Passah said
Thangkhiew verbally assured the delegation to extend the merit list by another
3 months and to appoint candidates under phase II by August.
“However, we
have maintained that we will no longer accept such sweet verbal assurances by
MeECL. We demand that such assurances be given in black and white in the form
of a notification,” Passah said.
He said since
the CMD failed to inform the delegation on the matter, they have decided that
the indefinite strike will continue. The main demand is to complete appointment
of all candidates before August 2 as the one-year validity of the merit list
will expire on the day.
Referring to
the recent information sought under the RTI Act, 2005, Passah said MeECL in its
reply has revealed that the total number of sanctioned posts is 1,073 and the
numbers of regular and casual jugalis appointed so far are 596 and 462,
respectively. With the strike called by casual jugalis, the functioning of
sub-stations in all the 11 districts was hit. ltogether 466 candidates are yet
to get appointment letters. A petition was also filed by Romeo (Mul) Niangti,
an aggrieved candidate, before the Meghalaya HC for its intervention.
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