Representative of employees of MSPDCL and Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) and Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL), Soram Sunnyboy questioned the state government whether the agreement reached between the state and the employees, on suspension of the indefinite cease work strike, was for issuing an “inappropriate” order or to bury the issue.
He was speaking to the media during the second day of sit-in-protest staged in front of Power House, Keishampat junction, Imphal on Monday.
He said on December 31 of 2001, secretariat Power department signed by Under Secretary (Power) Orjubala Haorongbam had issued an order with the subject, ‘Implementation of 7th Manipur Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2019’ to the employees of MSPCL/MSPDCL including employees of Electricity department, Manipur who are deputed to MSPCL/MSPDCL’.
The order mentioned of “the implementation of Manipur Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2019 in respect of employees of Electricity department, Manipur (EDM) who are on deputation to MSPCL and MSPDCL notionally with effect from January 1, 2016; actual implementation from April 1, 2019 and with cash payment from November 1, 2021 as per the decision taken by the Cabinet in its meeting held on September 4, 2021 and Manipur State Electricity Reforms Transfer Schemes, 2013.”
It further mentioned that the arrears for the period from April 1, 2019 to October 31, 2021 shall be deposited into respective GPF accounts of the employees which cannot be withdrawn till one month before the retirement. However, for those employees covered under the new Pension Scheme (renamed as National Pension System), arrears shall be released in 3 equal installments i.e. on April 1, 2022; second on April 1, 2023 and third on April 1, 2024. Arrears for expired/ retired employees shall be paid on a one-time installment, as per the order.
Sunnyboy said the issued order is inappropriate as it does not include the employees of MSPCL and MSPDCL although it was mentioned under the ‘subject’ of the said order. To include the employees of MSPCL and MSPDCL in the implementation of the 7th ROP, 2019, the sit-in-protest was started from Sunday in front of Power House, Keishampat, Imphal, he added.
He said on September, 10 last year due to the indefinite cease work strike launched by the employees of the Power department, the power consumers of the state including the secretariat and VIP feeder had to face a power outage. On the same day, an emergency meeting with the state government and the protestors resolved for implementation of 7th ROP, 2019. With the agreement the indefinite cease work strike was suspended temporarily, he added.
He questioned the state government whether the agreement reached between state government and protestors last year was to merely issue such an inappropriate order.
Later in the late evening , representatives of the employees of MSPCL and MSPDCL met state Bharatiya Janata Party president A Sharda Devi and submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the state BJP president at her office located at Nityaipat Chuthek, Imphal.
