Shillong, Jul 04: Employees of the Meghalaya Transport Corporation Workers’ Union (MTCWU) on Tuesday continued their strike, demanding reinstatement of Managing Director, A. Nikhla.
Speaking to reporters, MTCWU President Erwin Sutnga said, “The cause of the strike is to demand for revoking the transfer order of Managing Director of MTC. In the past, we have been requesting the government for a full time managing director whose tenure should not be less than 5 years, but the response from the government has always been far from positive.”
The MTC employees said that as Managing Director, Nikhla was dynamic in her approach, and employees of the corporation had also started showing enthusiasm in their work.
“The employees have high hopes on the corporation making a turnaround in bringing about improvement in all areas. Her sudden transfer after nine months in office, does not reflect well from the government,” Sutnga said.
The strike that began on June 27, has affected the services of both tourists and locals. Services such as selling of rail ticket at the MTC counters did not resume even as many tourists stranded due to absence of the public transport service, while MTC buses used for ferrying school students have stopped plying in the city from June 29.
Over 600 students who depend on MTC buses to reach their respective schools and come back home have been affected by the strike.
The Hynñiewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) Women’s Wing also met leaders of the MTCWU following complaints they received from parents of the students.
“A total of 647 students have been affected due to the ongoing strike which is the outcome of the adamant attitude of the state government towards the demand of the employees,” HANM-WW president B Jyrwa told reporters.
She said that parents have been paying monthly bus fare to the MTC for dropping their children to schools, mostly located in Upper Shillong.
According to her, 13 buses have been engaged by the MTC for the purpose.