Manipur Hills teachers demand 19 months' pay

Imphal, February 17 : With the state government having reportedly failed to pay them salaries for over the last 19 months or so, a Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the All Manipur Autonomous District Council Appointees Teachers Guardians/Parents has alleged that the attitude of the state government under Chief Minister, O Ibobi was the worst form of exploitation towards the minorities living in the hill districts of Manipur.

The JAC has given deadline of nine days for the government to solve the problem of pay.

All the autonomous district councils (ADC) of the hills including Kangpokpi informed NNN that the 835 (eight hundred thirty-five) appointed teachers of the ADCs have in total received only eight months salary so far.

No further salary, arrear or allowances have been dispersed by the concerned department, added the JAC and alleged that this was the worst form of exploitation by the Ibobi Singh led state government towards the minorities of the hills districts.

The JAC also alleged the attitude of the state government has turn anti-tribal in many fronts including the government education institutions and infrastructure developmental programmes.

The JAC also informed that with such attitude of the government, the ADCs are left with no options to call total Manipur bandh and economic blockades along the national highways (NHs) 39 and 53 against the governments negligence and exploitation.

The JAC also called upon the state government to release the salaries, arrears and allowances at the earliest possible and settle the problems faced by the employees for the smooth running of the academic session of 2009 and also for the better future of the hills districts.

Further calling upon the state government for an amicable solution to the mentioned problems, the JAC has called upon the general public to cooperate for the right cause during the JAC's agitation.