Headmen sponsored Stay at Home’s protest successful but PWD Jowai North Division’s legacy wind up

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 16, 2020

Amidst the hues and cries raised by the Synjuk Ki Waheh Chnong Jowai (SWCJ), the legacy of the PWD Jowai North Division will remain only in the pages of history as the Meghalaya Government has shifted the Division to Shangpung and renamed it as Shangpung Division.

While the 12 hours long “Stay at Home Protest,” the first of kind agitation sponsored by the SWCJ on Monday passed away peacefully with no untoward incident reported from any parts of Jowai Town.

The agitation was called by the SWCJ in protest against the shifting of the PWD Jowai North Division from Jowai to Shangpung by the Meghalaya Govt. Notably, on 14th November, last the authority concerned of the PWD Jowai North Division shifted the office properties from Jowai to Shangpung but proper arrangement of the office is still underway.

Normal life was crippled and trade and business came to stand still as the four major markets in Jowai Town namely Iawshyiap, Iawchor and Iaw Sein Raij all located in Iawmusiang Area and Iawthymmei, Ladthadlaboh were closed and wore a deserted look, the shopping malls namely V Mart and India Family Mart kept their shutter down and all shops including Pharmacies, Hardware, Grocery and others were seen closed throughout the 12 hour long protest.

Public transports service were adversely affected as there was no public transport vehicles plying from Shillong to Jowai, Ummulong, Nartiang, Amlarem, Khliehriat, Lad Rymbai and other areas while few taxis were seen plying in some parts of Jowai Town.

The financial services also came to a standstill as all banks located in Jowai Town namely State Bank of India, United Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank (MCAB), Meghalaya Rural Bank, Bank of India, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, Bank of Barodo, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India were closed down. A major number of ATM counters were also seen closed down.

The entrance examination for the Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) held in Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, Chutwakhu passed away peacefully with a total turnout of 324 candidates out of a total candidates of 395. Adequate security personnel were deployed in the examination centre for ensuring no untoward incident.

 The Meghalaya Govt’s offices located in Jowai Town were seen open but with little or no turnout of employees even the DC’s Office, Jowai were reportedly functioning with skeleton staff.

The District Administration, West Jaintia Hills District as precautionary measures deployed police parties at Iawthymmei, Ladthadlaboh and Iawmusiang and also intensify police patrolling throughout Jowai Town.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Synjuk Ki Dorbar Shnong Shangpung Pyllun on Monday were all praised for the Meghalaya Government who shifted the PWD Jowai North Division from Jowai to Shangpung as they asserted that the Division covered the areas under Raliang Constituency and Mowkaiaw Constituency.