Contractual staffs of MACS call off agitation
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 27 2012:
The contractual and peripheral staffs MACS, who were on an indefinite cease work strike since March 21 demanding implementation of due revised pay and arrears and extension of their service, called off the strike with immediate effect from today.
In a statement, the peripheral and contractual staffs of MACS informed that they have been given assurance by the Project Director of MACS that their demands would be looked into and discussed.
Accordingly, a meeting was convened today and decided to call off strike with immediate effect and so all the ICTCs, PPTCTs, ART Centres, LACs, RPCs, STI/RTI Clinics, Blood Banks and DAPCU will be opened as usual.
Meanwhile, All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) has expressed its gratitude to the striking contractual staffs of MACS for opening up the ART centres in the state in due considering of the hardship faced by PLHIVs in state.
AMADA reportedly inspected the ART centres, PPCTCs and ICTCs of the state and found the staffs of ART centres performing their duties even though they are on strike demanding implementation of due revised pay, due arrears and extension orders of their service.
Speaking to media persons during the course of the inspection at JNIMS, Kh Meghachandra, Secretary General of AMADA, said that the volunteers of AMADA have inspected the ART centres, PPCTCs and ICTCs in RIMS, JNIMS and other areas and found the striking staffs of MACS doing their duty.
Various organizations have also earlier appealed to the striking staffs to resume dispensing ART drugs in the interest of the PLHIVs of the state and look for an alternative approach.
Terming the strike as anti-people, AMADA has also announced that it would be inspecting the ART centres in the state and staffs found absent from their work would be made known to the public and they would not be allowed to perform their duties again.
The striking staffs of MACS resumed dispensing ARV drugs for five days starting from March 24 considering the hardship faced by people living with HIV and AIDS.
However, they have made it clear that they will resort to non-violent means if the government fails to take steps to fulfill their demands within the stipulated time.