IMPHAL, October 5: Reiterating their demands for extension of service and pending salaries, the aggrieved contractual staff of Agricultural Technology Management (ATMA), has threatened to intensify their agitation from October 8 if the state government fail to respond positively.
Talking to IFP in this connection, a spokesperson under the condition of anonymity revealed that representatives of ATMA approached the Chief Minister seeking his intervention with regard to ATMA’s demand on Friday. However, the representatives were denied appointment by the Chief Minister, he said.
The spokesperson revealed that despite the denial to give appointment, the members of ATMA submitted a two page memorandum at the CM’s secretariat highlighting the plight of the employees.
“We are disappointed with the indifferent attitude of the state government, but ATMA has unanimously stood firm to launch intensive forms of agitation from October 8 if the Chief Minister does not respond positively to our demand by October 7”, he said.
It may be recalled that the contractual staff of ATMA had earlier on September 27 launched agitation to pressure the concerned authority to materialize their demand.
During the first leg of their agitation, they had staged a sit in protest demonstration at the office complex of the Agriculture department.
But in an attempt to placate the agitating staff, the Director of Agriculture convened a meeting with the ATMA staff and promised to work out an amicable solution after the return of the Chief Minister who at that time was out of station.
Following the assurance, the ATMA staff suspended their agitation temporarily.
In the memorandum, the ATMA mentioned that 87 (eighty seven) staff of ATMA were appointed in the year 2011-12 through a regular DPC.
The decision to extend the terms of engagement for another one year was taken by the state cabinet in its meeting held on April 1, 2013 i.e, before six months from today.
The approval of the government for extension of the terms of engagement following the cabinet decision was conveyed to the Director of Agriculture (letter No. 23/74/2012-Agri (ATMA) dt 06.05.2013), it said.
It stated that instead of taking up steps for extension/re-engagement the matter was put up to the Administrative department.
The same was intimated to the Director of Agriculture by the letter cited in the subject for further necessary action, it continued.
Accordingly, an agreement on Standard Format for Engagement on Contract Basis has been signed by each employee on August 24, 2013 representing the second party in presence of four witnesses in the Directorate Training Hall, the memorandum continued.
But the first party to be represented by the State Nodal Officer (ER-MAN)/ Director of Agriculture has not been signing the said agreement till today, it said.
Despite the repeated appeal, the management of Agriculture department has not implemented the decision of the State Cabinet for 6 months now.
Due to the non-finalization of the contract agreement, the staffs have not been receiving pay and allowances for the last 7-10 months, it added.