HITO meets power minister over MeECL’s failure to implement order on EDA of home guards

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 22, 2025

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) on Tuesday met the Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal, seeking his intervention into the non-implementation of enhanced duty allowance (EDA) allegedly by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to Home Guard volunteers engaged by it.

According to HITO, MeECL has failed to adhere to the government’s Civil Defence and Home Guard Department office orders regarding the payment of enhanced duty allowance to trained Home Guard volunteers engaged by MeECL.

These volunteers have been performing duties that were previously carried out by MeECL’s regular security guards, following the corporation’s failure to recruit new personnel for over 40 years.

The Home Guard volunteers are responsible for manning vital installations and assets of MeECL, including power stations, sub-stations, stores, offices, revenue collection centers, checkpoints, and gates. Despite their critical roles, they have not received the enhanced duty allowance as per the government’s orders.

HITO has urged the Power Minister to intervene in the matter and ensure that MeECL complies with the government’s directives regarding the payment of enhanced duty allowance to the trained Home Guard volunteers.

“We urge you to immediately direct the MeECL to comply with the orders/notifications/circulars, issued by the…department,” HITO president Donbok Dkhar said in the memorandum submitted before the minister.

“Also on a long term basis request your department to draw a road map on implementation of the order issued by the personnel department/Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission order, for filling up of all vacant sanctioned post on a regular basis,” he stated.