KIM, ITLF fume over No Work..No Pay circular
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal/Kpi, June 27 2023:
The Kuki Inpi Manipur and Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) have strongly opposed and expressed resentment against the government of Manipur's decision to invoke 'No Work, No Pay' rule for employees not attending office.
Along with issuing circular on it decision to invoke the "no work, no pay " rule for absentee employees, the government of Manipur asked the General Administration Department (GAD) to furnish details of employees who are not able to attend their official work due to the prevailing situation in the state.
A circular issued on Monday night by GAD secretary Michael Achom said: "In pursuance of the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on June 12 and decision taken at para 5-(12) of the proceedings, all employees drawing their salaries from General Administration Department.
Manipur Secretariat are informed that no work, no pay may be invoked to all those employees who do not attend their official duty without authorised leave" .
Manipur government has one lakh employees.
Over 65,000 people have been displaced across Manipur, which include a large number of government employees, who have taken shelter in the relief camps.
The circular also asked for all administrative secretaries to "furnish details of those employees who could not attend their official duty due to prevailing situation in the state indicating the details of employees such as designation, name, EIN, present address, to the General Administra tion Department and to the Personnel department, latest by June 28 so as to take appropriate necessary action" .
Reacting against the circular, KIM said the decision has exposed government's constant piecemeal ploy to achieve 'Forced Peace' through 'Terror Tactics' while the ITLF contended that the order is unrealistic, insensitive and mala fide.
According to KIM general secretary Khaikhohauh Gangte, Manipur government is putting the lives of many employees particularly survivors of the ongoing violence in Imphal valley at risk.
When the Meetei 'extremists' are looking for the Kukis in the valley and even Kuki elected representatives were not spared, how could Kuki employees risk the hazard of going back to the valley where they escaped death by a whisker, he said adding that going back to Imphal is a death trap for the Kuki people.
The two warring ethnic communities are now literally living in their own defined territories after the partition.
Population exchange between the Kukis and Meeteis was witnessed and there is literally no way to go back to Imphal for the Kukis, he added.
The secretary continued that pending the separate admin istration demand of the Kuki people, the government of India should understand the fear and apprehension of the Kukis to go back to Imphal and immediately facilitate to accommodate Kuki employees to places where they are secure and safe.
While lamenting the alleged non-fulfilment of the promises made by Union home minister Amit Shah during his visit last month, Gangte stated that among the assurances include deputing of super-specialist doctors in the bill districts, removal of police commandos from Moreh and helicopter service to connect the hills districts.
All these promises remained unfulfilled and the hapless Kuki people are awaiting the realization of these promises at the earliest, he said and urged the Government of India to immediately expedite separate administration for the Kukis so that the Kukis live in peace and dignity.
On the hand, the ITLF said tribal communities including the Kuki-Zo community constitute a portion of state government's workforce but they have been subjected to inhumane treatment in Imphal valley since May 3 and evicted.
Kuki homes, properties, personal documents and belongings have been looted and burned leaving them without any means to return to work or their residences, the Forum said.
The circular is an affront to the principles of equality, justice and compassion that should guide the actions of any responsible administration, which the state government persistently lacks, it maintained and urged the Government of India to take immediate steps to provide justice, security and rehabilitation among many others to the affected Kuki-Zo people.
It also urged the Centre to advise the state government to withdraw the 'No Work, No Pay' circular immediately.
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