By Sukham Nanda
The ongoing cease work strike of Joint Action Committee of All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees Organisation (AMGEO) the apex bodies of the employees of the state, demanding implementation of 6th Pay Commission recommendations in the state and other welfare schemes for the employees have entered 42 days.
There is no doubt the genuinity of the strike. Which is why the JAC and employees of various technical and essential service sectors of the state, like health PHED have gradually started extending their solidarity to the on going cease works strike which led state administration to a state of paralysis at present.
It would be very wrong for the state government to remain a silent spectator at this stage with the state administrations hanging in a limbo. Besides, it is very unfortunate for a state like Manipur which has very poor resources and having to rely entirely on funds from Centre since last many decades is facing the problems caused by the frequent strikes. The ongoing one by the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO for fulfilling various demands for the welfare of the employees of the state for instance would involve huge financial expenditures by the state government in order to fufill them.
The state government has already given its pledge that the 6th Pay Commission would be made application to the employees of the stae from the beginning of April this year. But, there will be uncertainity over the payment of arears as chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh pointed out there will be no possibilities of giving the award to employees if the 13th Finance Commission of India does not agree to put foot the additional bill. The state government, as the statement of CM clearly implied is powerless and without the generosity of the Central government it can do nothing. Here a question arises whether the JAC's ceasework will continue till the award of 13th Finance Commission is finalised or suspended for time being. It is upto the handling of the situations by the state government.
In the meantime, looking at the issue from another angle, the ceasework strike of JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO can be seen as championing only the welfare of certain sections of the people. Not everybody is a government employee and infact a majority are employed outside of the government. The magnitude of the current ceasework strike is very serious it would paralyse ahd hurt the entire state, in particular the common mass a majority of whom have no stake in the strike.
The moral aspects of the ongoing cease work strike of the JAC for achieving goals which are for the welfare of the government employees can be accepted, but causing serious concerned and grievances by strike to the common people of the state while demanding for the welfare of certain section of society is not justified.
Again a major festival of the state ‘Yaoshang' is just around the corner. Many people, specially lower rung state government employees would be left at a great loss as they would not be able to participate in the Yaoshang carnivals without their monthly salaries and other festival benifits from the state government for this year.
Considering all these consequences and grievances resulting directly from the strike, and in particular the blow it would be to the common people of the state, the cease work strike should be at least temporarily suspended. Both the state government and JAC need to step back a little and seek a solutions at the soonest, if they really think for the welfare of the people of the state.
This article was published on Imphal Free Press