Imphal, Jan 11 : Teachers of government higher secondary schools in Manipur today threatened to boycott the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections if the government failed to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
A 45-day ceasework by government employees has failed to move the Okram Ibobi Singh government. So nearly a hundred teachers of 34 government higher secondary schools today held a sit-in at the gate of Tamphasana Girls’ Higher Secondary School here in support of their demand.
There are nearly 1,000 teachers in state higher secondary schools. “Today’s sit-in is only the beginning. We will intensify the agitation if the government remains indifferent. We will boycott the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections if the recommendations are not implemented by then,” said M. Devendro Singh, the vice-president of the All Manipur Government Higher Secondary School Lecturers’ Welfare Association.
Ibobi Singh said the current fiscal health of the state was not conducive to the payment of increased salaries.
Rejecting the government’s stand, the employees, under the banner of the Joint Administrative Council, an apex body of government employees’ unions, are on a ceasework since November 27.
The Higher Secondary Lecturers’ Association is not a member of the Joint Administrative Council. However, it has fully supported the council’s demand.
“Central government employees are getting the enhanced salaries. As a result, the prices of all commodities have increased. State government employees and their families are suffering,” Devendro Singh said.
He said the association was considering joining hands with the government teachers’ organisations like the All Manipur Elementary School Teachers’ Association and All Manipur School Teachers Association.
Nearly, 9,000 teachers of government elementary schools will hold a sit-in on January 12 in all the nine districts in support of the demand for increased salaries.
Moreover, nearly 20,000 teachers from elementary to higher secondary level may jointly launch an agitation.
“We do not like to disturb the academic atmosphere. It is because of this reason that we have been waiting for a positive response from the government. If the government fails to give a positive response, we may launch various forms of agitation,” a leader of the elementary school association said.
The Joint Administrative Council also announced a series of sit-ins from January 14.
Employees under the banner of the council will hold a sit-in till January 24 in directorate offices in Imphal, including the office of the Imphal East and Imphal West deputy commissioners and the electricity, public works and sports departments.
“We will decide the next phase of agitation after January 24. We will intensify the agitation,” a spokesman forthe Joint Administrative Council said.