Jugalis begin cease-work stir

From A Reporter
SHILLONG, July 24: Supported by the Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM), the jugalis (helpers) began an indefinite cease-work protest outside the gate of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) office here on Monday in protest against the delay in issuing appointment letters to 466 qualified jugalis as the merit list will lapse next month (on 2nd August).
Around 100 jugalis took part in the protest carrying placards and banners outside the MeECL gate. A team of police personnel and CRPF jawans were also present at the protest cite to bar entry of jugalis beyond the power cooperation’s gate.
However, a few minutes after the protest began, MeECL’s Chairman-cum-Maging Director (CMD) PS Thangkhiew invited the agitating jugalis for talks on their long-standing demand.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, KHM youth wing president Thomas Passah said, “In the meeting, the CMD assured us that the merit list will be extended by three more months and 233 qualified jugalis will be issued appointment letters under Phase II and later another 233 candidates will be issued under Phase III.”
He further said that the CMD has told them that if he fails to appoint all the qualified jugalis he will relinquish his post as CMD of MeECL.
“We will, however, not call off our agitation and continue with our indefinite strike until we receive the assurance made by the CMD to extend the merit list’s term by three months in black and white,” Passah said.
Informing the media that the issue has been apprised on a number of occasion to the State government without any result till date, he said, “Election is inching closer and maybe some Ministers are playing politics with this issue and are trying to appoint their own supporters to the posts of jugalis.”
The KHM leader further threatened that all qualified jugalis will boycott the Congress party in the upcoming Assembly elections if the present Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) II government fails to agree to their demands.