7th Pay talk fails : Offer to implement 7th Pay from next year rejected
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 04 2018:
A meeting called by the Chief Minister in connection with the ongoing cease work strike demanding implementation of 7th Pay for the State Government employees and pensioners, failed to produce any positive results and the next meeting has been scheduled for 4 pm tomorrow.
The OSD to the Chief Minister, Sumant Singh, had invited Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Trade Unions' Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation (AMGEO), Manipur Government Services Federation and Manipur Secretariat Services Association for the meeting which was held today.
According to an official source, members of Manipur Government Services Federation and Manipur Secretariat Services Association participated in the meeting but none from Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Trade Unions' Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation (AMGEO) participated demanding immediate revocation of the warrant of arrest issued against its leaders and the show cause notice issued against its secretary general Laitonjam Biken.
The JAC was also not happy with the invitation sent in such a hurried manner as many of its members are from different parts of the State and as such failed to take part in the meeting, the source added.
It may be mentioned the cease work strike launched by the JAC from March 22, entered its 74th day today.
According to the source, Chief Secretary Dr Suresh Babu and Principal Secretary (Finance) V Vumlunmang represented the Government while around 40 representatives of Manipur Government Services Federation and Manipur Secretariat Services Association took part in the meeting which lasted from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Speaking to media persons, Manipur Government Services Federation general secretary Purujit Lairikyengbam said that the meeting discussed on the prospect of implementing 7th Pay in the State taking into account the current financial scenario of Manipur.
On the other hand, the employees demanded payment of 7th Pay from January 1 of 2016 to which the Government reasoned that it would be infeasible to do so and assured to implement 7th Pay from April 1, 2019.As the employees demand and the Government's assurance were completely opposite and needed further discussion, the meeting was scheduled tomorrow at 4 pm, he added.
Replying to a query, Purujit revealed that there had been no instance of the State Government pressuring the Central Government in any way for a financial package to implement 7th Pay.
He added that it was only during the meeting that the Chief Minister brought a copy of the written request which was given to the Union Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla (who came to Imphal today) regarding implementation of 7th Pay in the State of Manipur.