IMPHAL | FEBRUARY 25 : "Since the State has no resources for augmenting the salaries of government teachers as per central 6th revised pay commission recommendation, the public have to bear the cost," said Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today in the sideline of his visit to the capitol project site in Chingmeirong in Imphal.
The chief minister was referring to the inability of the government to meet the demands of teachers’ associations in the State for the implementation of central 6th pay commission recommendation in toto.
Government high and higher secondary school teachers under the tutelage of Council of Teachers’ Association (COTA) have been demanding the implementation of 6th pay recommendation since 2009 via various forms of agitation and negotiation. Early in 2010, the government and the striking teachers reached an agreement with the government buckling under pressure and agreeing to adopt and accept the implementation of the recommendation of six pay commission.
But the implementation of the demand has since been delayed by the government without any rhyme or reason. With the constant reminder falling on deft ear of the government COTA has resorted to various forms of agitations. The latest is that it has pledged to intensify its stir by staging a fast until death stir by 200 member teachers volunteering even at the expense of academic atmosphere. At least 200 striking teachers under COTA have been arrested and jailed by the police on charges of attempting to commit suicide.
Meanwhile, Federation of All Colleges Teachers’ Association Manipur (FACTAM) has also independently been demanding UGC pay bands by going on a mass casual leave on February 18 and 19. Since February 22, the college teachers have also resorted to sit in protest and have given February 28 as the deadline for the government to meet their demand failing which it will launch different forms of agitation.
The statement from the chief minister today has completely gone against the hope and aspiration of the striking teachers.
“The government deliberated on the issue of the demands of the teachers at the level of the cabinet,” the chief minister said, adding that “if the public so agree to the idea of raising the salary of the teachers, the government would be glad to implement immediately.”
The chief minister expressed his grief over the loss of precious academic calendar of the students following the strike by the teachers. He also expressed empathy with the teachers on their meager salary and the hardship they had to endure while imparting knowledge to the students, but the cash strapped “government is simply not in a position to accept their demands.”
If the public agrees to the idea of increasing across-the-board taxes (land, agriculture, electricity, water, sell taxes etc.), the government does not mind augmenting the salary of the teachers, the chief minister said, and asked, “Will that be acceptable to the public?”
Fearing that if the demands of the teachers are met in the present circumstances, the State might by plunged into perpetual hardship, the chief minister has appealed to the striking teachers of COTA and FACTAM to withdraw their demands which the government is not in a position to meet. Speaking on the same occasion, the chief minister rued that because of interference by “unwanted elements” construction works of capital project and new building of Guwahati high court is feared to be delayed.
He went on to say that legislature, judiciary and executive are the bedrock on which is founded the seed of democracy, and that the new Guwahati high court building and capital project are the manifestation of democracy. Therefore these projects which are funded through the special planned assistance will be finished for inauguration before May.
The chief minister was referring to the inability of the government to meet the demands of teachers’ associations in the State for the implementation of central 6th pay commission recommendation in toto.
Government high and higher secondary school teachers under the tutelage of Council of Teachers’ Association (COTA) have been demanding the implementation of 6th pay recommendation since 2009 via various forms of agitation and negotiation. Early in 2010, the government and the striking teachers reached an agreement with the government buckling under pressure and agreeing to adopt and accept the implementation of the recommendation of six pay commission.
But the implementation of the demand has since been delayed by the government without any rhyme or reason. With the constant reminder falling on deft ear of the government COTA has resorted to various forms of agitations. The latest is that it has pledged to intensify its stir by staging a fast until death stir by 200 member teachers volunteering even at the expense of academic atmosphere. At least 200 striking teachers under COTA have been arrested and jailed by the police on charges of attempting to commit suicide.
Meanwhile, Federation of All Colleges Teachers’ Association Manipur (FACTAM) has also independently been demanding UGC pay bands by going on a mass casual leave on February 18 and 19. Since February 22, the college teachers have also resorted to sit in protest and have given February 28 as the deadline for the government to meet their demand failing which it will launch different forms of agitation.
The statement from the chief minister today has completely gone against the hope and aspiration of the striking teachers.
“The government deliberated on the issue of the demands of the teachers at the level of the cabinet,” the chief minister said, adding that “if the public so agree to the idea of raising the salary of the teachers, the government would be glad to implement immediately.”
The chief minister expressed his grief over the loss of precious academic calendar of the students following the strike by the teachers. He also expressed empathy with the teachers on their meager salary and the hardship they had to endure while imparting knowledge to the students, but the cash strapped “government is simply not in a position to accept their demands.”
If the public agrees to the idea of increasing across-the-board taxes (land, agriculture, electricity, water, sell taxes etc.), the government does not mind augmenting the salary of the teachers, the chief minister said, and asked, “Will that be acceptable to the public?”
Fearing that if the demands of the teachers are met in the present circumstances, the State might by plunged into perpetual hardship, the chief minister has appealed to the striking teachers of COTA and FACTAM to withdraw their demands which the government is not in a position to meet. Speaking on the same occasion, the chief minister rued that because of interference by “unwanted elements” construction works of capital project and new building of Guwahati high court is feared to be delayed.
He went on to say that legislature, judiciary and executive are the bedrock on which is founded the seed of democracy, and that the new Guwahati high court building and capital project are the manifestation of democracy. Therefore these projects which are funded through the special planned assistance will be finished for inauguration before May.
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