Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, October 20:
Employees of the state government, protesting against non-payment of salaries and deprivation of various perks and allowances, are to go on full-fledged cease work strike from Monday.
Employees in most departments, acting under the aegis of the Joint Administrative Council (AMGEO and AMTUC) have already launched a pen down strike from October 18 last.
Sources in the JAC said that in intensification of the stir, a cease-work stir of all government employees, except for essential departments, is set to be launched from Monday.
Employees working at the state secretariat are also to join the strike from that date.
The JAC sources sought the cooperation of the public in the strike, and urged employees, including those in the state forces, not to take their salaries while the strike is in progress.
In the meantime, the state chief secretary, Rakesh held a meeting with representatives of the Manipur Secretariat Services Association and the Manipur Secretariat Drivers Association today in connection with the strike proposed to be launched by the employees.
The meeting however could arrive no resolution with the chief secretary insisting that due to the acute financial problems faced by the state, the demands of the employees cannot be fulfilled at this time.
The employees major demands include regular payment of salaries and pensions, including for employees of autonomous bodies and corporations, review of the government decision withholding various entitled perks and allowances, among others.
It is worth mentioning that the total strength of employees of the state government is in the region of 80,000 with a total salary bill coming to 70 crores per month.