Imphal, April 22 2010: There is no money in the state exchequer to give arrears to the employees of the state government, and the election to the Autonomous District Council will be held in May.

Making this announcement at a press conference organised after the State Cabinet meeting held at 2 pm at the conference hall of the Chief Minister's secretariat, Chief Minister O Ibobi categorically said that the government is in no position to be able to pay the employees arrears.

He said, it is not that the government does not want to give arrears to the employees as they are demanding payment of the same counting from 2006.The employees are the real administrators of the government.

There is no question of hiding the truth as if the government does not want to give them arrears.

If the employees themselves or any financial expert can enlighten the government that there is enough money to pay arrears, the government would be very happy, Chief Minister Ibobi said.

He told the press conference that the monthly income of the government is Rs 222.61 crore.

This amount has been calculated taking into consideration that the General Provident Fund (GPF) of the employees could also be used.

This amount includes Rs 162 crore that could be collected by the Power Department anually as part of resource mobilisation.

The Chief Minister said, if the department concerned is unable to collect this amount, the amount of money that would remain in the hands of the government would still be less than Rs 222.61 crore.

But the amount the government has to spend every month is about Rs 292.28 crore.

Rs 10 crore that has to be spent on purchasing power is included in this amount.

The Chief Minister informed the media-persons that a Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Revenue Minister Th Devendra with Health and Family Welfare Minister Ph Parijat and Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing as members has thoroughly studied the financial condition of the state along with top officials of Finance Department.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee has found that the government is burdened with a deficit of about Rs 69.68 crore every month.

In order to recoup this amount, the monthly salaries of the employees that should come from non-plan are being paid by turning it into plan.

Considering all these factors, the government is in no position to pay the employees arrears, the Chief Minister asserted.

Making a fervent appeal to the employees to withdraw their ceasework strike, the Chief Minister asked them to look at the position carefully and see whether the state has enough resource or not.

He also asked the employees, who are well familiar with financial calculations to sit together with the retired officials of the Finance Department to see whether the government is telling the truth or lying.

If the experts can ever prove that the government has enough money, the arrears being demanded by the employees would be paid immediately, the Chief Minister said.

Replying to a question on what actions the government has taken to alleviate the hardships being faced by the public in view of the over three month-old ceasework strike launched by the government employees, Chief Minister Ibobi said the government is trying to bring an end to the strike.

The state government has started taking actions against the employees out of necessity.

So far, 55 employees have been slapped with dies non.

He told the newsmen to just see what the government does against the employees who still continue to cease work despite the government's directive to discontinue the ceasework strike and that dies non will be applied.

The Chief Minister further said that since the government is in no position to fulfill the demands of the employees, there is no point in sitting together with them.

If the representatives of the employees' union just get up and walk out of the talks, it would not look good.

That's why, the three senior Ministers have been assigned to start talking to the employees.

If they agree to come to a conclusion, he does not have any objection to meet and talk to them, Ibobi said.

Informing the press conference about the decision taken by the State Cabinet meeting today regarding the election to the Autonomous District Councils, the Chief Minister said, it will be held in May as scheculed without fail.

The counting of votes will be held in the first week of June.

The State Election Commisson has been directed to fix dates for the counting.

The Commission will issue notification of the election soo, Ibobi said.

He said, the Prime Minister and other Central leaders have frequently asked the state government why no election to the district councils was held in the hill areas for the last 20 years while elections are held in the valley.

Why the democratic rights of the tribals were being deprived, the Centre had asked.

Saying that unless elections are held in the hill districts, no funds for development would be sanctioned, the Centre has blocked all funds for the hills.

This has delayed the development programmes for the hill districts.

Therefore, the election to the district council must be held at any cost, the Cheif Minister categorically announced.

Some organisations of the hills were protesting demanding amendment of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1972 (Third Amendment, 2008) .

Making amenment in the Act is not a difficult task.

What are the points that they want amended could be detected and amended accordingly, Chief Minister Ibobi said.

Regarding the economic blockade, the Chief Minister made it clear that the government was viewing the issue seriously.

The government is also making necessary arrangements to introduce a legislation that bans any kind of bandh or blockade.

The Act will have provisions declaring those who organise bandh or blockade as anti-nationals.

They will not be speared.

The government will counter any consequence, the Chief Minister asserted.

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