Imphal, November 12: Even though the Government today softened its stand and offered to release scaled down House Rent Allowance and Travel Allowance, the proposal of the Government failed to cut ice with the Manipur Secretariat Services Association.

The proposal was put forward during a meeting held between representatives of the Association and the Government at the Chief Secretary Mini Conference Hall this afternoon.

Government representatives led by Chief Secretary Rakesh held talks with representatives of the Secretariat employees led by its president Kh Raghumani today at 12.30 pm to discuss the employees' demand.

Principal Secretary (Finance) V Chhiber came out with a compromise formula and offered that the Government is ready to pay a scaled down House Rent Allowance from the previous 7.5 percent share of the salary to 5 percent.

He assured that if the employees accept the compromise formula then the Government would issue orders in this connection within two/three days, disclosed an employee who attended the meeting.

The Government also offered to pay scaled down Travel Allowance for all grades of employees.

However, the employees turned down the proposal offered by the Principal Secretary.

The employees said the offer violates the norms laid down by the 5th Pay Commission.

If the offer is accepted then it may tie the employees down when the 6th Pay Commission is fixed, said an employee.

Kh Raghumani said that the employees cannot accept the proposal of the Government.

A general body meeting will discuss the proposals put forward by the Government tomorrow, he further informed.

Meanwhile the JAC today said the employees should not be held responsible for the financial mess and added that the fault lies with the Government for not adhering to any financial discipline down the years.

Following the cease work strike launched by the All Manipur Government Higher Secondary Lecturers' Welfare Association from November 10, academic progress has come to a grinding halt at all the higher secondary schools.

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