The Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of the AMTUC and AMGEO has temporarily suspended its proposed “Silent Mass Rally,” scheduled for September 11, citing the prevailing situation in Manipur.
JAC president Rajkumar Basumani announced the decision during a press meet held at the JAC office in Babupara today.
Rk. Basumani said the rally had been planned to protest the state government’s alleged failure to act on the demands submitted by the JAC concerning the grievances of Manipur government employees, workers, pensioners and family pensioners.
JAC president further expressed that the organisation has been pursuing a 10-point Charter of Demands submitted to the state government. However, despite repeated appeals, no concrete action has been taken on several of the demands, he said.
He added that employees, workers and pensioners had been compelled to resort to strikes in the past as the government failed to address their grievances.
Referring to meetings held with government employees on July 3 and 6, Basumani said the government had agreed to declare Saturdays as holidays for government employees and release the pending 3 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR). However, he said, there had been no further progress on the remaining demands.
The JAC also raised concern over the large number of sanctioned posts lying vacant across various departments of the Manipur government. Basumani claimed that around 50,000 sanctioned posts have remained vacant for years, resulting in an estimated financial loss of approximately Rs.287 crore every month and around Rs.3,444 crore annually.
He warned that abolishing these sanctioned posts on the grounds that they are no longer required could have serious consequences for the state’s educated youth.
Rk.Basumani appealed to economists, civil society organisations, student bodies, clubs and other organisations across Manipur to come together and deliberate on the issue and support efforts to protect the sanctioned posts from possible abolition.
The JAC president reiterated that the organisation has been continuously pursuing its demands but has yet to receive a satisfactory response from the government.
He clarified that the temporary suspension of the September 11 rally was not intended to oppose or obstruct the ongoing movement by the JFD and the people of Manipur concerning the Census and NRC update.
Instead, he said, the decision was taken to extend moral support to the ongoing public movement in the state.
The JAC said it would continue to pursue its Charter of Demands and review its course of action in accordance with the prevailing situation.