Talks fail, 6th Pay stir to continue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 21 2010: Even as the indefinite cease work strike of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO over its demand for implement of 6th Central Pay along with arrear entered the 6th day, talks between the JAC and the Chief Secretary to resolve the deadlock failed to arrive at any decision today.

The talk was held at the invitation of Chief Secretary DS Poonia.

Apart from the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Finance) AN Jha, Education Commissioner and Secretary to Chief Minister PK Singh and PIC officials were present in the talks from the side of the Government while the JAC was represented by its incumbent secretary Chingtham Chandramani, former secretary general Th Inaocha, president of Manipur State Pensioners' Union H Yaima and other JAC secretaries.

JAC members coming out after the failed talk

The talks which lasted for around 2 hours failed, with the Government insisting on meeting the demand of the JAC after receiving the award of the 13th Finance Commission which was outrightly rejected by the JAC.

Informing about the talks, a statement issued by secretary publicity and information of the JAC L Priyobratta said, rejecting the suggestion of the Government, the JAC pointed out that 6th Pay Commission has already been implemented and 73 percent of the DA/DR paid to the employees in other States of India without the award of the 13th Commission.

So the deprivation of not only the benefit of 6th Pay Commission but also providing only 47 percent of the DA/DR to the employees of the State Government is not justifiable.

In view of the repeated failure of the Chief Secretaries and the Finance Commissioner to keep their commitment in the past, the JAC also proposed that the talks should be held at the Chief Minister's level.

However, when the Chief Secretary asserted that the strike should be suspended first for holding the talks at the Chief Minister's level and warned that necessary action would be initiated against the striking Government employees if the strike is not suspended, JAC secretary general made it clear that the strike would continue if even if the Government employees were to be hung to death.

Meanwhile speaking to reporters after the meeting, secretary general of the JAC, Ch Chandramani said that they made it clear to the Chief Secretary that the Government should release 17 pc of their arrear, or else the cease work strike would not be called off.

The JAC members expressed deep disappointment with the stand of the Chief Minister who said that the Government has no funds to pay the 17 pc arrear.

The JAC secretary general demanded that the Government produce a white paper on their stand and then they may discuss the matter together.