Power prepaid counters shut as employees intensify stir
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 09 2021:
In continuation of the protest against non-implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission for electricity employees, the JAC has shut down prepaid vending counters from Thursday onwards.
Employees of the department's Thoubal and Kakching districts also joined the agitation and abstained from service with immediate effect.
The second day of the protest was marked by a scuffle between the agitating employees and the police when the protesters tried to lock down the main gate of MSPCL office at Keishampat.
As police foiled their attempt, they staged a sit-in protest inside the office complex.
Later, while addressing a press meet at the office premises of Manipur Electricity Employees' Union (MEEU), JAC convener Shaymnagar said that they will launch cease work strike from Friday onwards and they will only attend to electrical repairing and maintenance works related with health sector.
Divisional offices located in different parts of the state will also be shut down from Friday onwards, he said and added that they will continue their protest until the government honours their demands.
Employees of Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL), Thoubal Sub Division also joined the protest against non-implementation of the 7th pay commission's recommendation by staging a sit-in demonstration on Thursday.
The sit-in was attended by representatives of the JAC of Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL), MSPDCL, Manipur Electricity Employees' Union (MEEU), MSPCL Power Engineer Service Association (PESA) and MSPDCL Officers' Association.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, MSPDCL Thoubal EO Sagolsem Khelendro pointed out that employees of several other departments have been enjoying pay-scale as per Central government employees but the state government is yet to provide the same benefits of 7th central pay commission to the employees of electricity department, which is an essential service.
The government should not discriminate among its employees, he added.
Affirming that Thoubal sub division will support every move of the JAC, Khelendro said that they will not do any repair work if there is any malfunctioning in electric transmission during the protest period and urged the public to bear the inconveniences in support of the employees.
Protesters used placards inscribed with wordings like "Treat employees equally", "We demand 7th pay", "MSPCL and MSPDCL demand 7th pay" etc., among others.
Employees of Electricity Department in Kakching district too joined the agitation launched by JAC of MSPCL, MSPDCL, MEEU and MSPDCL Officers Association (MOA) in pursuance of the demand for implementation of 7th ROP 2019.Supporting the agitation, electricity employees of Kakching district ceased work and closed the electricity prepaid, recharge counters and office of MSPDCL Kakching Division deputy general manager on Thursday.
According to some employees, the agitation could be intensified with non-repairing of electricity outage due to technical defect.