Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur's administrative engine is stalled. A statewide cease-work strike, now in its ninth day, has frozen government offices and cost the state an estimated 13.28 crore so far. The Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF) and the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of the All Manipur Trade Union Congress and All Manipur Government Employees’ Organisation continue to lead the protest. They demand long-pending service adjustments.
The government recently moved to a five-day work week, effective July 11, 2026. This mandate designates Saturdays as holidays with office hours running 9:00 am to 5:30 pm in summer and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in winter. Despite this concession, unions refused to back down. They remain anchored to a seven-point and ten-point charter of demands. Immediate priorities include lifting the retirement age from 60 to 62 years and hiking Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) to match Central Government levels. Currently, discrepancies in DA rates remain a primary point of friction.
Protesters gathered at Nityapat Chuthek, the Deputy Commissioner’s Complex in Bishnupur, and the Minor Irrigation Department at Lamphelpat. Drivers, technicians, and pensioners joined the ranks. JAC president R.K. Basumani warned that the agitation will grow. "The movement would be intensified if the government continued to ignore the employees' demands," Basumani said.
Key grievances include implementing the 8th Pay Commission, restoring the Old Pension Scheme over the Unified Pension Scheme, and halting the re-engagement of retired staff. The JAC also highlighted an estimated 550 crore liability in retirement benefits and nearly 5,000 vacant government posts. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel have held talks with union representatives, yet no solid agreement exists. The strike continues until a deal is struck.
Comments