IMPHAL, December 4: Co-operative and Social Welfare Minister Ak Mirabai while appealing to the agitating members of the employees association of Manipur State Co-operative Bank to resume their normal works from 10 am tomorrow, has warned that the employees will become applicable for dies non in case they ignore her appeal.
Speaking to media persons at her office chamber this afternoon, minister Mirabai said that the government will take action against MSCB staffs who failed to resume their duties on the set deadline.
Updating the steps taken up by the government for fulfilling the demands of the association, Mirabai informed that the government has considered the request for appointment of a Chief Executive Officer of the bank and the process is currently underway. At the moment, the file is with the Chief Minister office, she said. On the other hand, regarding the package of Rs 46.24 crore meant for the MSCB and 208 Primary Agriculture Co-operative Society, the minister stated that her office is waiting for ratification from the chief minister, after which the state will be submitting a formal written application to the Reserve Bank of India and Ministry of Finance.
The minister denied that government is playing delaying tactics on the appointment of the CEO of MSCB. She clarified that the problem was in finding a suitable candidate for the post satisfying all the criteria prescribed by the RBI. She reminded that the government had invited tenders of advertisement three times in local and national newspapers.
Mirabai said recently in November 22, 2013 the commissioner of Cooperative met senior official of Finance Minister in Delhi and pursuing the matter of renewal of STCCS Offer very hard. But the state official was told that the Centre has no plan for reviving the scheme as result of the critical economic situation. She further said that the scheme had expired in June, 2011 many states including Manipur have not availed the opportunity due to non-fulfillment of the benchmarks. So, the allegation of the MSCB employees that the fund was not sanctioned because of the absence of a CEO is wrong, she said. She added that there is no possibility of the scheme being extended before the coming Lok Sabha Election likely in early part of 2014.
She cautioned that employees who do not heed to her appeal for resumption of duties from tomorrow will be subjected to the no work no pay policy. Harsher punishment like legal action could follow suit and the leaders of the association should bear the responsibilities for all consequences, she stated.
Mirabai announced that from today the government will begin scrutiny of the functioning of the PACS and their functioning. Actions will be taken up if the operation of any unit is found to be below par or not complying to the criteria of a cooperative.
Submitting his opinion on the appointment process of the CEO, Register of Cooperative Th Manao claimed that the RBI had given strong warnings that states who appoint CEO outside the norms of RBI will be liable to penalty.
Earlier, the employees of the bank had threatened to call a 48-hour general strike from 6 pm of December 7 to 9 pm of December 9 demanding immediate appointment of CEO of the bank. The employees Association has already launched cease work strike from today.