Shillong: The Dolloi of Elaka Narpuh, Manbha Kyndoh, has urged the Meghalaya government to intervene immediately to end the ongoing strike called by the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners & Drivers Association (MCTODA), saying the protest has paralysed economic activity and pushed thousands of indigenous residents into distress.
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills on Monday, Kyndoh said the indefinite halt in transportation has directly affected livelihoods in the region, particularly those dependent on the cement industry and its allied services.
“This strike has impacted all the indigenous people in a very massive way for no fault of ours. We strongly feel that unless immediate measures are not taken by the government of Meghalaya and local administration, it may have a long-term irreparable cascading impact on we the local people,” the Dolloi said in the memorandum.
The strike, which began on October 27, 2025, has brought cement plant operations to a standstill, affecting an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 employees and thousands more engaged in supply chains, transport work, labour, roadside dhabas, and village-based services. Local communities are also facing shortages of essential commodities, while ongoing developmental activities supported through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds have stopped.
Kyndoh stressed that the impact spreads far beyond those directly working in the cement sector. “As per our own understanding and as per discussion we had with various Headmen of Elaka, not less than 40 to 50 thousand indigenous people are directly hit by this irrational and illegal strike called by MCTODA which has ripple effect on we the local people,” the memorandum stated. “This is over and above the number of countless families of local drivers, handyman, roadside-Dhaba, who earn their livelihood from plying these trucks on the road.”
He further warned that funds collected through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) may also be affected due to non-operation of the plants, which would “further impact local development.”
Appealing for urgent government action, the Dolloi added: “…on behalf of the all the villages under this Dolloiship, with earnest request to local administration as well as Government of Meghalaya to resolve this matter without any further delay so that we and our families come out from the fear of livelihood threat, state of grief and sorrow forced upon us by MCTODA and their supporting groups without any fault of us.”
Expressing distress over the timing of the strike ahead of the festive season, the memorandum noted that the people have been left unable to celebrate. “We have no feelings left towards celebrating the festival for which we wait for a year and make lots of plans of fun and enjoyment. At this juncture, we are totally distressed and under grief and state of sorrow,” it said.
No official response from the government has yet been announced.
