Source: Hueiyen News Service / LS Vin
Ukhrul, January 14 2009:
ALL DEVELOPMENTAL and official works remained paralysed as the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of the All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees Organisation (AMGEO), Ukhrul Branch, intensified its cease-work stir today demanding implementation of 6th Pay Commission by staging a sit-in-protest at Ukhrul by more than 400 JAC members.
The prolonged agitation has also paralysed the normal life of every walk of life of the district.
Today's sit in protest comes after the cease work strike which lasted for more than a month.
As per the decision of the Central JAC, Manipur, almost all the State Government Offices have also been locked by the JAC with effect from 7th January 2009 as organized in different districts of the state.
However, the basic need offices like medical, electricity and water supply department are exempted from the closure.
The locked offices are to be remained close till the charter demand of the JAC is completely conceded by the government, said the JAC.
With the adoption of 6th Central Pay Commission and non implementation of the same in Manipur have made the State Government Employees and general public in dilemma.
As the protest goes on, every work has come to a halt and many wages are wasted.
But the JAC was compelled to take up such a step as the State Govt has turned a blind eye to the long time back demand of the JAC.
At least two lakh employees are deployed in Manipur.
Half of them are employed by the Central Government.
Regardless of high and low grades, they have already enjoyed the 6th Central Pay Commission since 1st January 2006 with an increment of 2/3rd amount of their previous pay range.
And 40% of the total arrear amount has already released since last September 2008.From that point of time, prices all the essential commodities and goods are hiked in a great scale in the public market where both the Central and State Government Employees are depending together in a same township, and there is no separate market for the Central and State Govt employees in the state.
Consequently, the state employees and general public are victimizing the economic crisis as the second class citizen of the country, said the press release of the JAC, signed by its General Secretary, Samson Kasar.
As assured by the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Manipur through media to the striking employees of the state to accept adoption of the 6th Central Pay Commission immediately if any one of the state in the country already implemented it.
The JAC in response to his assurance assured to the CM that JAC can be tabled more then 2/3 various State Government orders passed for adoption of the 6th Central Pay Commission to their own State employees.
However, the Hon'ble Chief Minister never invites the JAC's representatives to table the said official orders passed by the other state governments as assured by him regarding the adoption of the 6th Central Pay Commission which are readily available in the office record of the JAC Manipur.
The JAC does not claim the fund other than state employees pay head which included in the budget.
Moreover, the Govt of Manipur is still pending to pay in terms of crores of amount to the state employees for their DA/DR and its arrears etc which was approved by the 12th finance Commission, added the press release.