IMPHAL, October 20: The All Manipur District Council Teachers’ Association (AMDCTA), Chandel branch, today staged a sit-in demonstration at Japhou bazaar, demanding the release of the teachers’ pending arrears, salaries and other benefits.
Around hundreds of teachers from various schools situated in the district took part in the demonstration.
Placards which read, “Immediate release of 14 percent D.A arrear (ROP)”, “Release 6th month 6th pay”, “complete pension scheme of ADC employees”, “stop frequent transfer” etc., were displayed during the protest.
The protest demonstration was a part of the announcement made by the All Manipur District Council Teachers’ Association to launch various forms of agitations from October 20 following the failure of the state government to fulfill their various demands including payment of dearness allowance arrears, pay arrears and implementation of pension schemes even after repeated appeals from the association.
While elaborating on their demands, HT Pollingson, president of AMDCTA stated the long pending 14 percent dearness allowance arrears was part of the so called fifth pay ROP arrears for the period of Junuary 1, 2001 to June 30, 2005 for 4087 teachers of the six ADCs. The filed of which was after being processed and examined, has been forwarded to higher authority for approval but it has been kept pending unattended till date, he said.
He however alleged that the same arrears were enjoyed by government employees of the state two years back with accumulated interest of four years.
With regards to the six months pending arrears, for the period October 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010, he said that the Governor of Manipur in an order had granted the arrears, in two equal installments. The first installment was slated to be distributed on November 1, 2010 and the second installment on June 1, 2011. But nothing has been done so far, he said.
At the same time, Pollingson further urged the government to implement the pension schemes at the earliest.
Another issue concerning the teachers is the frequent transfers and postings of ADC teachers, poor infrastructure, lack of quarters, transportation problems etc. informed Pollingson.
While stating that the teachers have had enough hardship, Pollingson urged the government to intervene into the plight of the teachers.
Informing that there are altogether 902 teachers alone in the Chandel district, he further informed that the teachers will also be staging similar protest on October 22 in Imphal.
It may be recalled that the AMDCTA first launched its agitation from September 2007, however following assurance from the then Tribal Development minister DD Thaishii, the agitations were ended on October 23, 2009.