Imphal, January 16, 2010: Expressing serious concern over the JACs of All Manipur Trade Union Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Govt.Employees Organisation's cease work strike, the Chief Minister, O Ibobi appealed to the JAC of two the organisations to reconsider their stand in the interest of the general public.

In a press conference held at his official chamber, the chief minister, said that it is unfortunate that the JAC had decided on this course at such a crucial juncture to go on a cease work strike.

With just two and half months to go before the end of this fiscal, it is imperative that the all the departments function at its full potential so as to spend the targeted amount, said the chief minister.

As the state plan was finalized late, many of the departments have barely been able to spend 50% of the allotted amount.

Further, he continued, that if in case the state government is not able to spend the plan money and is returned back to the centre, the actual sufferer would be the people of this state, The state government inspite of the resource crunch had made a commitment to pay the salaries under the new scale by April 1, 2010.This is so because the preparation of the revised ROP Rules is in progress and it will take at least 60 days to bring out the draft ROP rules and another 30 days to obtain the necessary approval and for the departments to prepare the pay bills as per the new scales.

Driving the point home, the chief minister said that many states in the north east like, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, but his government has taken all the risk in making this commitment as there is no guarantee that the 13th Finance Commission will agree to all the proposals put up by the state government.

The chief minister warned that if the government gives in to the demand of the JAC for payment of arrears w.e.f January 1, 2006, involving additional expenditure of Rs 1994.91 crore, the state would be again plunged into financial disarray as was seen some years back when the state governments of those days were unable to pay salaries for months together.

Above this the state government will have to bear an additional expenditure of Rs Rs 4016.52 crore in five years as salaries in the new scale as per the 6th pay commission, which includes 726.89 crore in 2010-11, 763.23 crore in 2011-12, Rs 801.40 crore in 2012-13, Rs 841.46 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 883.54 crore in 2014-15. While the government is willing to look into the matter of payment of arrears at the earliest, as matter stands now, the ball is in the court of the 13th Finance Commission.

Taking these factors into account, the JAC, the chief minister reminded, should remember the saying "spend according to one's ability".

The chief minister also drew attention to the fact that there are only about 70, 000 government employees in the state in a population of 23 lakh.

It is the duty of the government to look after the interest of all the 23 lakh people and not just the 70,000 government employees.

On the extension of service years from 59 to 60 years, one of the demands of the JAC, the chief minister said that though the government in principle has no issue with this demand, all the same, in a state like Manipur with limited scope for employment, it has to take all the implications under consideration before arriving at a decision.

As of now, there are about 4 lakh people registered with the employment exchange, and then there are many more employed qualified youths who haven't registered thinking it to be an exercise in futility.

A government employee, when he attains the age of 59 years had already served for 25 to 30 years and even after retirement will get pension and other benefits.

In such a circumstance, if we continue to increase the service age of the employees, it will bound to increase the sense of frustration among the unemployed youth, the chief minister contended.

At the end of the press conference the chief minister, O Ibobi, made a fervent appeal to the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO to recant their cease work strike, specially at this "very crucial" juncture when the state government needs to put its best foot forward to implement the projects to the full and spend the money allocated for these in the interest of the people of the state.

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