Employees, pensioners air grievances to CM
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 27: Representatives of State Government employees and pensioners today called on Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand and highlighted their difficulties, grievances and several key issues.
Representatives of Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF), Manipur State Pensioners’ Union and representatives of different departments met Khemchand at the Chief Minister’s bungalow today and submitted a memorandum.
Speaking to media persons after their meeting with the Chief Minister, MGSF president Laishram Sarat said that they placed before the new Chief Minister all their major grievances as well as what they wish the new Government to do.
He said that the Chief Minister listened patiently to their grievances and demands, and assured to take up necessary action.
He said that the State’s workforce has been "heavily depleted" with nearly 50 per cent of total sanctioned posts currently lying vacant due to annual retirements.
No Government can function effectively under such conditions. The serving staff are increasingly overburdened which threatens the efficiency of public service delivery, Sarat said.
While Central Government employees have been receiving a 60 per cent DA, State employees are currently receiving only 42 per cent. Making up this gap of 18 per cent will help in improving the State’s economy, he said.
Pointing out that approximately 90 per cent of cases pending in the Manipur High Court are reportedly service-related while the service rules of the State Government are ‘scattered a lot” and every interested person has his or her own interpretation, the MGSF president urged the Government to task the Department of Personnel to issue a compendium of all relevant service rules and instruct all concerned to strictly follow the rules as is done in the case of other well administered States.
Maintaining that the National Pension System (NPS) is "inimical" to the rights of pensioners, Sarat demanded re-introduction of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the immediate clearance of mounting pension benefit arrears that have reportedly caused "immense suffering" to thousands of retirees.
He also urged the Government to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 years considering age-related demographic profile, higher life expectancy, global average of retirement age, State’s financial stress, vacancy in Government departments and to mitigate the loss of experienced personnel.
The MGSF president demanded an end to the "sinister" contract-based appointments for regular vacancies, which they claim exploits educated youth and destroys morale of entire Government machinery.
He also called for an end to the "dubious practice" of granting indefinite financial powers to select Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), suggesting that these roles should be rotated to ensure transparency.
Citing glaring differences in pay structures, specifically mentioning nurses working in JNIMS and other health institutions of the State Government, Laishram Sarat urged the Government to settle the matter at the earliest.
Pointing out that the practice of giving service extension to select favoured employees has caused total demoralisation of the serving employees, he asked the Government to stop the practice of rampant service extension without proper justification.
Saying that there is no uniform pension system for the retired employees of various PSUs, corporations and local self bodies under the State Government, he appealed to the Government to devise a uniform pension system for such employees.
IMPHAL, Feb 27: Representatives of State Government employees and pensioners today called on Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand and highlighted their difficulties, grievances and several key issues.
Representatives of Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF), Manipur State Pensioners’ Union and representatives of different departments met Khemchand at the Chief Minister’s bungalow today and submitted a memorandum.
Speaking to media persons after their meeting with the Chief Minister, MGSF president Laishram Sarat said that they placed before the new Chief Minister all their major grievances as well as what they wish the new Government to do.
He said that the Chief Minister listened patiently to their grievances and demands, and assured to take up necessary action.
He said that the State’s workforce has been "heavily depleted" with nearly 50 per cent of total sanctioned posts currently lying vacant due to annual retirements.
No Government can function effectively under such conditions. The serving staff are increasingly overburdened which threatens the efficiency of public service delivery, Sarat said.
While Central Government employees have been receiving a 60 per cent DA, State employees are currently receiving only 42 per cent. Making up this gap of 18 per cent will help in improving the State’s economy, he said.
Pointing out that approximately 90 per cent of cases pending in the Manipur High Court are reportedly service-related while the service rules of the State Government are ‘scattered a lot” and every interested person has his or her own interpretation, the MGSF president urged the Government to task the Department of Personnel to issue a compendium of all relevant service rules and instruct all concerned to strictly follow the rules as is done in the case of other well administered States.
Maintaining that the National Pension System (NPS) is "inimical" to the rights of pensioners, Sarat demanded re-introduction of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the immediate clearance of mounting pension benefit arrears that have reportedly caused "immense suffering" to thousands of retirees.
He also urged the Government to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 years considering age-related demographic profile, higher life expectancy, global average of retirement age, State’s financial stress, vacancy in Government departments and to mitigate the loss of experienced personnel.
The MGSF president demanded an end to the "sinister" contract-based appointments for regular vacancies, which they claim exploits educated youth and destroys morale of entire Government machinery.
He also called for an end to the "dubious practice" of granting indefinite financial powers to select Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), suggesting that these roles should be rotated to ensure transparency.
Citing glaring differences in pay structures, specifically mentioning nurses working in JNIMS and other health institutions of the State Government, Laishram Sarat urged the Government to settle the matter at the earliest.
Pointing out that the practice of giving service extension to select favoured employees has caused total demoralisation of the serving employees, he asked the Government to stop the practice of rampant service extension without proper justification.
Saying that there is no uniform pension system for the retired employees of various PSUs, corporations and local self bodies under the State Government, he appealed to the Government to devise a uniform pension system for such employees.