Fast unto death
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 14 2017:
Home Guards have threatened to launch fast unto death stir from July 20 if their long pending demand of hiking duty allowance is not fulfilled immediately .
There are around 2148 Home Guard personnel in Manipur and they are being given duty allowance of Rs 4000 and Rs 100 as ration money per month .
Their service is extended every three years .
Demanding increment of their duty allowance, Home Guard personnel staged a protest demonstration at Khurai Puthiba community hall today .
Speaking to media persons there, Manipur Home Guard Employees Welfare Association general secretary Kh Inaobi Devi said that the Supreme Court instructed all States and Union Territories on March 11, 2015 to give duty allowance to Home Guards at the pay scale entitled to Police Constables at the time of joining service .
The apex Court's order must be implemented within three months and the same has been implemented in neighbouring Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya .
However, there is no sign of implementing the apex Court's order in Manipur, she decried .
Acting on the Supreme Court's order, a petition was filed at the High Court of Manipur and the High Court passed an order on January 12 this year directing the State Government to implement the Supreme Court order .
Some members of the association met Chief Minister N Biren on April 3 this year during which the Chief Minister asked for relevant files from the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) .
Even though the Chief Minister further directed officials concerned to prepare a Cabinet memorandum on the matter, nothing has been done to implement the Supreme Court's order .
Inaobi said that 90 per cent of the money spent in paying salaries to Home Guard personnel are borne by the Central Government for the North Eastern States .
She then urged the Government to table the issue in a Cabinet meeting and adopt a favourable resolution .
Home Guard personnel would form groups of five and launch fast unto death stir from July 20 until the demand is fulfilled, she added.