Employees stir enters 56th day

Imphal, Jun 14 (UNI) The ceasework strike launched by Manipur government employees entered the 56th day today without any sign of agreement between the employees and the government.

The government has arrested three senior leaders of the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation and All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) who had launched an indefinite ceasework strike demanding hike in pay and rectification of pay anomalies.

The JAC has also demanded the retirement age be fixed at 60 rather than 58. It is also demanding regularisation of adhoc employees. The JAC volunteers have started locking government offices which were broken by state police personnel.

The Senapati unit of the JAC has announced to launch a blockade on National Highway 39 if the three leaders were not released.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had appealed to all state government employees to call off the strike in the interest of the people.

The Chief Minister had informed that the employees were demanding 71 per cent DA enjoyed by the central government employees, while they were given 59 per cent.

In other NE states also the government employees were not enjoying the facilities conferred to central government employees, he added.

If the state government concedes to the demand of the employees an additional Rs 6.90 crores will be incurred every month, he added.

Rectification of pay anomaly will be carried out he assured as demanded by the employees.

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