Imphal, November 10: Even as process of filling up the final examination forms for class XII and class XI is underway the All Manipur Government Higher Secondary Lecturers' Welfare Association has started an indefinite cease work strike from 3 pm today demanding payment of House Rent Allowance and Travel Allowance along with their salaries before Ningol Chakkouba.

The decision to launch the cease work strike was taken during a general body meeting of the Association today at TG Higher Secondary School.

Teachers and members of the Association who attended the meeting resolved that the Government should pay their salaries on time every month and the cancellation of their allowances should be revoked immediately.

President of the association, T Pramodini, Model Higher Secondary School Lecturer S Tamphashini and Lecturer in Ram Paul Higher Secondary School RK Bimolata were the presidium members at the meeting.

With the teachers' cease work strike underway academic progress at the educational institutions will come to a grinding halt from Monday.

A 19 member Action Committee has been formed to chart out future course of action.

The Committee will hold its first meeting on Monday.

Pointing out that there is no natural calamity or declaration of a financial emergency, a number of teachers said there is no justification in cutting off their allowances due to them under the 5th Pay Commission.

The teachers said they had so far stayed away from the JAC sponsored cease work strike keeping in mind the interest of the students.

However since the situation has come to such a pass, the teachers have no alternative but to go on strike, they said.

At the moment, of the 44 Higher Secondary Schools in Manipur, six are functioning without a regular principal while in another 9 schools there are no principals or vice principals.

This shows the utter lack of interest in the field of education by the authority concerned, the teachers contended.

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