Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18, 2010:
The State Government has reportedly agreed to most of the demands of the striking employees during the second round of talks which was held today, though a final resolution is yet to be arrived at.
According to a member of the JAC of the striking Government employees, who attended the talk, it was held at the invitation of the Government.
The invitation was received while the JAC members who have been taken into custody by the police yesterday were being produced before the court Chief Judicial Magistrate today.
The talk was held at around 2.30 pm between a selected 17-member delegation of the JAC and senior Cabinet Minister Th Debendra at the latter's quarters at Babupara in the presence of Government spokesperson IFCD Minister N Biren.
During the talks, the Government has agreed to most of the demands of the JAC including extension of 6th Pay in toto.
However, with regard to the demand for arrears, the Government assured that atleast some portion may be taken care of by 2012. The meeting concluded on the note that another round of meeting would be held in the afternoon tomorrow after the assurances given from the side of the Government are discussed in the general body meeting of the JAC in the morning, the JAC member informed.
While the talks between the JAC delegation and the Government was underway, other members of the JAC waited inside the campus of the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
Meanwhile, out of the 17 JAC members picked up by the police yesterday, 7 of them have been released on PR bond while the rest have been remanded to further judicial custody for 15 days.
Meanwhile decrying detention of employees' representatives shortly after a joint meeting with State Government representatives including the Chief Minister last evening, a meeting convened today JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO has unanimously resolve to declare May 17 as 'Black Day', said a JAC release.
All Manipur Elementary School Teachers Association, welfare Association of 2006-07 Graduate Teachers and Manipur State Pensioners' Union have also condemned arrest of the employees.
The JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO release said rounding up of employees' representatives when a meeting was about to begin after an inconclusive talk with the State authorities is an act of betrayal and unjustifiable.