SHILLONG, MAY 13: The HSPDP sponsored one week office picketing came a cropper as state government employees defied the call given by one of the oldest regional political party to protest against the government’s failure to resolve the imbroglio over last year’s Meghalaya high court which rendered the headmen powerless.
The picketing failed to evoke response with almost all the offices of the state government in the six districts of Khasi – Jaintia hills functioning normally with healthy percentage of attendance.
The one-week office picketing was called after the HSPDP’s deadline to the state government to restore the power of the traditional institutions expired on Tuesday.
HSPDP had also demanded that the government immediately pass the KHAD Village Administration Bill, 2014 and come up with a state law to empower the traditional institutions and traditional heads in the state.
However in Shillong, central government offices and most of the financial institutions including SBI remained closed throughout the day while prominent offices like the secretariat and deputy commissioner Office functioned normally with healthy attendance.
Not happy with the attitude, a senior state government government official said, “The employees of central government offices have found a reason to go on leave.”
“Functioning of offices in the district was normal and attendance was recorded at 93 per cent,” Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi hills Sanjay Goyal said while adding the remaining employees who couldn’t attend office are those who have been granted medical and casual leave.
Goyal, however, lamented that most of the post offices remain closed during the day which is reflective that they agreed with the picketing.
Similarly in other districts like East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, Ri Bhoi and West and South West of Khasi Hills region, the functioning of government offices was also normal with good attendance.
West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, PS Dkhar said, “Everything is normal in the district,” adding “Apart from the government offices, even the national banks and other offices remain open the entire day.”
Giving a similar report about her district, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, Pooja Pande said, “The office picketing doesn’t have much impact in the district as all offices are functioning normally like any normal day. Since morning the office attendance by employees was 90 per cent.”
Security was beefed up in different parts of the city with deployment of CRPF and local police personnel.
Earlier, the state government has also issued an order warning that it would take strict action against all unauthorized absences.- By Our Reporter
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