The cease-work strike launched by the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of the All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) and the All Manipur Government Employees’ Organisation (AMGEO) over pending demands, including enhancement of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), gathered momentum across Manipur today.
Government employees of the Minor Irrigation Department at Lamphelpat in Imphal West and officials at the Bishnupur district headquarters suspended work and staged protests under the banner of the JAC. Members of the All Manipur Government Drivers and Technicians Association also joined the demonstrations, while employees from various departments assembled at the Deputy Commissioner’s Complex in Bishnupur in support of the ongoing agitation.
Addressing the protesters, JAC president R.K. Basumani warned that the movement would be intensified if the government continued to ignore the employees’ demands.
He said the JAC had submitted a 10-point charter of demands to the state government. Although some of the demands have been accepted, the key issues remain unresolved despite meetings with the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary, he added.
Basumani stated that Manipur government employees are currently receiving only 18 per cent DA/DR, while Central Government employees receive about 60 per cent. He demanded the immediate release of the pending DA/DR with effect from January 1, in line with the implementation process linked to the 8th Pay Commission’s Terms of Reference. He also rejected the government’s reported proposal to grant only a marginal increase in DA.
Highlighting another major concern, Basumani said the state government has an estimated liability of around Rs.550 crore towards retirement benefits. He suggested extending the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 62 years as one of the measures to ease the financial burden.
He further claimed that nearly 5,000 sanctioned posts remain vacant in various government departments, citing the government’s 2024 report. The vacancies, he said, have adversely affected public service delivery, and urged the government to fill them through regular recruitment.
Appealing to all government employees to strengthen the movement, the JAC called on those who have not yet joined the agitation to participate in the cease-work strike until the government addresses their demands.
