Won't cooperate with Director, say employees
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 11 2018: Urging the State Government to replace the MCS officer who had been appointed as the Director in-charge of Art and Culture Department on February 26 this year by a deserving officer/employee who has wide knowledge and experience in the field of art and culture from among the officers/employees of the department itself, the All Manipur Art and Culture Government Employees Association declared today that they will not extend cooperation to the newly appointed Director (in-charge) apart from continuing to carry out democratic forms of agitation.

Addressing a press meet held today at Manipur Press Club, president of All Manipur Art and Culture Government Employees Association Ch Nandakumar decried that the State Government has been paying no heed to the association's demand to replace the newly appointed Director (in-charge) by an officer/employee who has been working in the department for a long time and has broader knowledge/experience about art and culture.

He reminded that an MCS officer was appointed as the Director (in-charge) of the Art and Culture Department on February 26 this year after the post of Director had been lying vacant since January 30 contrary to their wish and proposal to fill the vacant post by an experienced officer from the department.

Noting that the present issue would not have arisen if the State Government had discussed the matter with officials of the department, Nandakumar asserted that Director of Art and Culture Department need to have thorough knowledge of art and culture for effective functioning of the department and to promote art and culture in the State.

The post of Director of Art and Culture Department is not a cadre post and there are many deserving persons in the department itself who can be chosen as the Director.

JAC of AMTUC & AMGEO's general secretary L Biken who attended the press meet lamented that the State Government filled up the vacant post of Director by an MCS officer despite a 22-point charter of demands, which include fulfilling the line of promotion for the deserving Government employees in their respective departments, had been submitted to the present and past Governments.

He further announced that the JAC supports the demand of All Manipur Art and Culture Government Employees Association saying the association's demand is reasonable.

Maintaining that the Government has failed to fulfil any of the 22-points charter of demand till date, including implementation of the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, the general secretary warned that Manipur Government employees in all the departments will launch cease work strike from March 22 if the Government does not issue an order for implementation of the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission by March 21.He added that all the departments which cater essential services to the public will also take part in the cease work strike.

Comment