By Okram Bimol
IMPHAL, January 5: The cease work strike of the employees of the Imphal Municipal Council which started in November last year has greatly affected the cleanliness and sanitary aspect of the bazaars areas in Imphal.
IMC employees have been demanding the release of 24 months of backlogged salaries.
Out of the 24 months, the authorities have released two months salary and assured that two more months will be taken care of as disclosed by a striking employee.
On the other hand, the employees strike has led to garbage piling up in almost every nook and corner of the bazaar area and the main Imphal localities covered by the Municipality.
As the public at large reamins oblivious of the health issues which would be affecting them due to the pilling up of garbage, there is also a blame game going on in the back drop.
Many people including the shopkeepers of the bazaar areas have started questioning the act of the IMC employees for neglecting their duties towards making the municipality area clean on one hand while the employees have said they have suffered much and cannot do so anymore.
The elected Councilors are also quick to add that the public has added to the woes of the IMC employees by failing to avail the several services provided by the IMC including the Kangshi garis.
Meanwhile, the ever increasing garbage seen in the municipality area continues to take its toll on the people living in the nearby areas.
A shop keeper at Nagamapal told this IFP reporter that IMC managed to clear garbage along the Naga River banks only a weekly basis even before they went on strike.
When asked if the shopkeepers and the locals have ever thought of cleaning up the garbage by themselves, he sheepishly acknowledged that there has been no such effort on their part.
Shoppers at Thangal Bazar along the Alu Galli do concede that even after the strike, IMC sweepers and garbage collection vehicles have been coming once a day in the morning. They however complained that the workers sometime fail to clean in a proper manner.
Speaking to this IFP reporter, one of the striking employees who identified herself as Th Sobita, said the Chief Minister who also holds the MAHUD portfolio under which the IMC comes under, has also failed to look into the grievances of the employees.
She further expressed unhappiness over the Chief Minister’s failure to consider the prolonged issue and appealed to the government to release the pending salaries considering the sorry plights of the employees and their families.
Another employee who did not want to be named said the elected Councilors have failed in their responsibility while fighting over the Chairperson’s chair.
Gyanendro, Councillor of Ward no. 15- Singjamei, said even though the IMC employees have been on strike since some time, the council has been putting in all efforts to perform their duties.
“However the IMC cannot perform to its best level without cooperation from the general public,” he said. He also added that the IMC has put four sweepers in its muster roll with a Rs 3000 monthly remuneration each as the IMC employees have been on strike.