Ceasework paralyses offices

A government office wears a deserted look during the ceasework in Imphal on Saturday. Picture by Eastern Projections Imphal, Jan. 17 : The indefinite ceasework by the apex body of employees’ unions in Manipur paralysed work in government offices today. The joint administrative council (JAC) decided to launch the ceasework today to press its demands for implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, extension of service years and payment of arrears. The council decided to go ahead with its plan after the Okram Ibobi Singh government failed to respond to its strike ultimatum served on December 31. The employees of the state secretariat, not affiliated to the council and school teachers, have not joined the agitation. Essential services were kept outside the purview of the ceasework. “Employees affiliated to the council stopped work in all the nine districts. We have learnt that functioning of the departments and offices in the districts has been affected,” the council’s publicity secretary L. Priyobratta Singh, said. The protesting employees stepped out of their offices and launched a campaign in all the offices in Imphal West to ensure that employees who are members of the council did not join work. Nearly 100 pro-strike leaders visited various offices, including those of deputy commissioner Radhakumar Singh, fisheries directorate, settlement office, election office and the engineering offices in and around Lamphal. They said they would continue such “stop work” campaigns in Imphal West and Imphal East districts where most of the head-offices are located. “We have changed our strategy. Earlier during ceasework we used to stay in our respective offices without doing any work. This time, we came out of our offices and went to others to ensure that no member of the council work during the strike,” another council leader said. Priyobratta today said employees of the state secretariat would also join the ceasework. “If the government remains indifferent, essential services will be brought under the ceasework,” he said. Ibobi Singh today appealed to the employees to call off the agitation. “Payment of arrears involves a sum of Rs 2,000 crore which the government does not have. Payment according to the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission from April this year would put an additional burden of Rs 726 crore per annum. We are pressuring the 13th Finance Commission to provide funds for the arrears. Before that, we could not make any commitment,” he told reporters.