Dr Bimol urges Govt to address lecturers' grievances

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 26: Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has urged the State authorities to take nece-ssary steps to resolve the ongoing pen-down strike by lecturers, which is disrupting academic activities, and find a solution to resume normal classes.
The Lecturers' Association Manipur, comprising the 2018 batch, has been on a pen-down strike since July 21, protesting the Government's delay in completing their regularization process, which has resulted in them not receiving a regular salary.
Speaking to the media at his Keishamthong residence today, Dr Bimol expressed concern that the ongoing lecturers' strike would severely impact Manipur's academic environment.
He urged the Government to provide the teachers with their entitled benefits and support.
The MP continued that the 603 protesting lecturers were initially recruited on a contractual basis in 2018 and later regularized through a Cabinet decision on January 8, 2022.
Although their probation period ended on January 7, 2024, they are still receiving the pre-regularization salary, he said.
Dr Bimol added that despite regularization, the lec- turers haven't been assigned appointment identification numbers, and their transfers and postings haven't been conducted according to the norms of regularized employees. The society will perish if the basic education system collapses, he said, urging the State authorities not to ignore the plight of the teachers.
Saying that 603 lecturers being on strike is a serious matter, Dr Bimol asserted that ignoring the plight of teachers would be tantamount to an affront to society itself.
Emphasising that education and health are the fundamental pillars of societal development, he highlighted that teaching is a noble profession that shapes generations.
Stating that he recently inspected the Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School, he added that one of the teachers told him that he hadn't received any payment.
Dr Bimol also mentioned that he met lecturers displaced due to the crisis who expressed desperation.
Meanwhile, the pen down stir launched by the Lecturers' Association Manipur (LAM) has extended till August 2.
LAM 2018 batch general secretary, Irengbam Malemnganbi Chanu, during a press meet today, said the stir has been extended due to Government's failure to complete the regularisation process for 603 Lecturers.
The association had demanded the Government and its authorities concerned to complete the pending regularisation by July 26.