Imphal, July 31: A temporary pause has been brought to the pen-down strike staged by 603 newly regularised higher secondary lecturers in Manipur, following a verbal assurance given by the state government. The strike, spearheaded by the Lecturers’ Association Manipur (LAM), had entered its eleventh day on Thursday before both sides reached a mutual understanding in the evening.
The lecturers had been demanding the finalisation of their regularisation process and the release of their pending salaries for over three years. A sit-in protest was staged earlier on Thursday at Thangmeiband, Imphal, drawing public and media attention to the prolonged grievances faced by the educators.
Their demands stemmed from a government order issued on January 8, 2022, signed by Commissioner of Education (S), M. Harekrishna, and counter-signed by Joint Secretary Hmangte Lerte Kom. The order stated, “The Governor of Manipur is pleased to order the regularisation of the services of 603 (six hundred and three) contract lecturers (Annexure-A) in Government Higher Secondary Schools, subject to verification by a Departmental Committee.”
The same order clarified that lecturers would be entitled to full pay and allowances starting from April 1, 2023, while they would continue to receive contractual remuneration until March 31, 2023.
“After regularisation, the lecturers shall not be entitled to any additional pay or allowances apart from the remuneration currently drawn for the previous period,” the order added.
However, amid the protest, a separate transfer and posting order was issued on Friday by Under Secretary of the Education (S) Department, Yumnam Arunkumar Singh. The order affected six lecturers, including three prominent LAM executive members.
LAM president Ashem Sanjoy Singh was transferred from Wangoi Higher Secondary School to Somdal NK Higher Secondary School. Executive member Maria Thokchom was moved from TG Higher Secondary School to Wangoi Higher Secondary School, and LAM Secretary Irengbam Malemnganbi was transferred from Lamlai Higher Secondary School to Jiribam Higher Secondary School. These transfers, said to be in the public interest, were to take immediate effect.
Later that evening, representatives of LAM held a meeting with senior officials of the Education Department. According to a statement issued by LAM Secretary Irengbam Malemnganbi, the government verbally assured the delegation that the pending approval from the Governor-in-Council for completing the regularisation process would be submitted within two to three days.
Also Read | Manipur Students Join Lecturers’ Strike, Demand Government Action on Unfulfilled Regularisation and Salaries
The association also cited departmental delays due to the recent appointment of new senior officers, which reportedly caused a backlog in file processing. LAM further claimed that the government had given verbal assurance that the controversial transfer orders affecting its executive members would be revoked.
Despite the absence of a formal written order, LAM expressed optimism about the outcome, viewing the developments as a step forward. “We hope the government’s commitment will be fulfilled soon and that the issues affecting our lecturers will be addressed promptly,” the association stated.
For now, the strike stands suspended but not withdrawn as the lecturers await the government’s promised follow-up actions.
(Newmai News Network)