Following the development, power has been restored in many areas of the state including commercial hubs of Imphal like Thangal and Paona bazars which experienced blackouts in the last few days. However, the employees are not satisfied with the latest overture by the state government.
TFM Report
The government of Manipur has finally caved in to the demand by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Electricity Department Manipur (EDM), Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) and Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) for hiking their salaries by implementing 7th Pay (ROP) for all electricity staff.
Following the development, power has been restored in many areas of the state including commercial hubs of Imphal like Thangal and Paona bazars which experienced blackouts in the last few days. However, the employees are not satisfied with the latest overture by the state government.
Joint Action Committee (JAC) convenor T Shayamnagor while briefing the media said that the issue of maintenance work will be resolved as soon as possible but the state authorities need to translate their assurance into reality.
Detailing about the strike at the Keisampat powerhouse, T Shayamnagor said that the government representatives showed the power employees a document mentioning that the demands of the pay revision will be met. However, the document still needs the approval of other departments including Finance.
Calling off the ongoing strike and also serving a 10-day ultimatum to the government, T Shayamnagor said, “The decision was taken following the assurance given by the state government representatives including the power department managing directors, commissioner and Imphal West deputy magistrate. We met them late at night on Friday.” He also recalled that such assurances have been given in the past but the government had always failed to translate the same into reality.
Co-convenor of the JAC, Soram Sunnyboy said that the employees still remain skeptical about the assurance. “Since the government has acknowledged the demand, the strikers have decided to resume work. But a ten-day time frame has been given to the government to keep its promise failing which, the same mode of protest will continue,” he said.
The JAC also rubbished media reports which said that power has been deliberately shut-downed by striking employees. “We have been misquoted in the news, we have not shut down any power lines, these are ‘trippings’ and occur naturally, we just didn’t repair them,” Sunnyboy said. He added that the department staff made effort to repair hospital lines and other emergency departments even during the strike. “Ours is a thankless job, we do our work round the clock, in public interest, while the interest of the power department employees always fell on deaf ears,” Sunnyboy stated. Power shortages are being fixed at the time of filing this report.