SHILLONG : The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Meghalaya Muster Roll Workers Union has threatened to stage an indefinite sit-in in front of the U Kiang Nangbah statue at Barik if Chief Minister Conrad Sangma does not invite them for talks by April 9.
Chairman K Pariat told reporters that Tuesday’s meeting marked “the beginning of intensified agitation.” He said the chief minister had promised to meet them in January, but no follow-up action has been taken so far.
Pariat highlighted that many muster roll workers eligible to retire at 60 are being forced out at 58, and several government departments under the CM’s portfolios have failed to implement personnel orders.
“It is not that we want the CM to meet us, but the personnel and finance departments fall under his portfolio,” Pariat explained.
He added that in December, the CM had asked them to be patient and promised to address the VDA issue at a pre-budget meeting, but no concrete steps have been taken since.
The JAC also raised concerns about unimplemented wage revisions for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers, delays of up to three months in salaries, and the non-application of Regular Casual Workers rules in the PHE wing, which employs 3,000–4,000 muster roll staff.
In sericulture, handloom, and weaving sectors, women tending silk worms are paid only once every nine months, while handloom workers have received no salaries since July.
“We have unanimously decided to call for an indefinite sit-in if there is no response by April 9. However, we hope the chief minister will invite us for talks so that we get clarity,” Pariat said.
“If permission is not granted, we will not hesitate to come out to the street,” he warned.
He added that repeated letters from the personnel department remain only on paper, leaving staff without benefits despite official orders.
“Many letters and communications have come out from the personnel department, but they remain only in paper as they are not being implemented by government offices,” Pariat said. He also criticized departments for enforcing retirement at 58 instead of the official age of 60 and not implementing pay revisions for eligible workers.