Imphal, November 14: Hopes for an early end to the ongoing strike of government employees and release of salaries before Ningol Chakouba have faded with the failure of yet another round of talks between representatives of the Joint Administrative Council (AMGEO and AMTUC) and the state government today.

The talks, held this afternoon at the office of the chief secretary, Rakesh, petered out as the two sides could not find any common ground to agree upon.

The meeting was attended on the government side by, apart from Rakesh, the special secretary finance and principal secretary finance.

The JAC delegation was led by its president, RK Madhuryyajit and included a number of office bearers.

According to reliable sources, while the government reiterated its previous offer to allow full payment of House Rent Allowance and Travel Allowance from April next year, and also offered to issue orders in this regard immediately, the JAC insisted on the other hand that if that was to be the case, the deductions made earlier from the employees salaries should be deposited in their GPF accounts.

Alternatively, JAC representatives said, they offered to forfeit the already deducted allowances if payment of full salaries began from January 1 onwards.

However, both proposals were rejected by the government side.

The government on the other hand relented on the medical reimbursement issue, promising full payment of medical reimbursements in case of serious illnesses but this failed to cut any ice with the JAC.

It may be mentioned that an earlier government offer for payment of HRA and TA at reduced rates had been rejected by the JAC.

The meeting ended early because a meeting of the Governor-in-council was to be held at the Raj Bhavan this same afternoon.

According to JAC representatives, the chief secretary offered a further meeting at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of the Governor, but the JAC members decided not to go.

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