Imphal, September 15: Part-Time Lecturers Association of Government Colleges (PLAGC), Manipur has announced its decision to launch a cease work strike with effect from September 29 in pursuance of its demand to fix their basic pay at Rs 8000 and the revival of the State policy for the part timers.

In an ultimatum served to the Commissioner of Higher Education, the Association said that it would be compelled to launch the agitation if the demands were not fulfilled within the stipulated date.

Although the Association is grateful to the Government for extending the service terms of the part time lecturers for another year, it has taken serious note of the failure of the Government to give a positive response to the main demand to fix the basic pay at Rs 8000 per month and the revival of the policy on the part timers in Manipur, the representation signed by Association general secretary H Helendro Singh rued.

Reminding that the Association had called off its proposed cease work strike till September 29 so as to enable the Government to have more time to consider the demands as the State Government had requested, the representation chastised the Government for its alleged failure to give a positive response.

Now the Association has no option but to go ahead with the cease work strike agitation with effect from September 29, the representation stated categorically.

Justifying its demands for payment of basic pay, the representation contended that the part time lecturers of the colleges have been assigned equal work load with that of regular teachers in the colleges since the date they entered service.

So as per the law of the land, the dictum of equal pay for equal work should be applied to the part time lecturers as well.

Besides, the enhancement of pay is essential in view of the hike in the prices of essential commodities day by day, it noted.

On the demand of revival of State policy, the representation observed that the policy should be implemented so as to provide the same benefit of absorbing the remaining 466 part-time lecturers as in the case of 108 part time lecturers.

The benefits given to a particular section of the same community should be extended compulsorily to other section of the same community.

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