Shillong, July 24: Hundreds of linemen (jugalis) who have qualified for the post began their indefinite strike today demanding immediate appointment by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL).
Of 772 candidates, the corporation had appointed only 306 candidates in the first phase, and the rest 466 are waiting for their appointment in the second and third phase respectively.
Assembling outside the corporation's premises at Lumjingshai here, the strike by the linemen, who work temporarily with the corporation, has also affected the functioning of hundreds of power sub-stations across the state.
The corporation had conducted a recruitment exam to fill up 772 vacant linemen's posts in 2011, but the results were declared in August last year after a series of agitation by the candidates.
Supported by the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), a regional political party, the candidates threatened to continue their strike till the corporation appoints the remaining candidates. The candidates feared that they may not be appointed, especially when the validity of the merit list is expiring on August 2.
Later, a delegation led by the KHNAM state youth wing president, Thomas Passah, along with some candidates, met MeECL chairman and managing director P.S. Thangkhiew to press for the demand.
After the meeting, Passah told reporters that Thang-khiew highlighted various reasons on the delay to appoint the 466 candidates and assured it that the validity of the merit list would be extend for another three months. "The CMD did not cite specific reasons regarding the delay to appoint the candidates but assured that the second phase of appointment would also begin by next month," Passah said.
The jugalis, however, would not retreat from their agitation till they see in writing a notification regarding extension of the validity period of the merit list.
According to information provided by the corporation to the KHNAM youth wing under the Right to Information Act, on July 19, the corporation has as many as 1,073 sanctioned posts, including 596 regular posts. There are around 477 vacancies yet to be filled up. "If there are 477 vacancies, what is the problem for the MeECL to appoint the 466 remaining candidates who had passed the recruitment exam?" Passah asked.
He said the corporation should not be seen as a place for politicians pushing their own set of people to be appointed as casual employees, especially when the Assembly election is due next year.