COTA set to launch fast unto death stir
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18, 2011:
Intensifying their agitation for implementation of the 6th Central Revised Pay in toto, the Council of Teachers'Association (COTA) is all set to launch a fast unto death stir until their demand is fulfilled.
The COTA has selected a team of 50 teachers for the batch of the fast unto death scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at Keishampat junction in front of AMESTA office.
Speaking to media persons about the planned agitation, COTA co-convenor M Joykumar said that the fast unto death campaign would expose insincerity of the Government.
He asserted that the Government should not betray the teachers.
Informing that the Government has invited COTA for a meeting on January 25, Joykumar said that the association welcomes the Government�s initiative, it is unclear whether the Government sincerely wants to bring a solution to the issue or not.
Out of 28 States in India, the 6th Central Pay has been implemented in 20 States.
After a series of agitation including sit-in-protests and courting mass arrest which began in April last year, the Government issued an order on May 5, 2010 for implementation of the 6th Revised Pay for Government employees albeit in a doctored structure.
The same order was rejected by COTA, JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO and MSSA and the same order was surrendered to the Governor on May 7 last year.
Subsequently, a meeting was held between the striking employees and the State Government in the office chamber of the Chief Minister on May 16, 2010 but the meeting proved inconclusive.
After this, an MoU was signed between the Government and COTA and JAC on May 19, 2010. As nothing came out of the MoU, COTA undertook 'chalk and duster down'strike from November 5 to 8 last year.
Even though the teachers are launching fast unto death stir from tomorrow, necessary arrangements would be made so that normal classes of schools are not disrupted, Joykumar added.