College teachers have been demanding implementation of the revised UGC pay scales for the past two and half years, ever since it was notified by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India on 31st December, 2008.
College teachers have been demanding implementation of the revised UGC pay scales for the past two and half years, ever since it was notified by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India on 31st December, 2008.
The All Manipur College Teachers Association (AMCTA) repeatedly submitted memoranda and held talks with the Education Minister and Chief Minister of the Manipur Government. Each time they received promises but nothing happened. In January 2010, the teachers constituted the Federation of College teachers’ associations, Manipur (FECTAM), which is the united body of AMCTA, AMGOCTA (All Manipur Government College Teachers’ Association), GCTAM (Government College Teachers’ Association) and some other individual college teachers’ associations.
FECTAM decided to intensify their struggle by various forms including protest rally, sit-in-protest and mass casual leaves. In 2011, June 3rd, Government of Manipur issued a defective order to implement a modified pay scale which was different from 6th revised UGC pay scale. Nonetheless, the teachers refused this modified pay scale. They issued an ultimatum and threatened to go on strike. They extended the ultimatum many times in response to appeals of the government. However, teachers have got nothing from the government till today except the words, “your demands will be considered later on”. Rejecting these empty promises, the teachers have launched an indefinite strike starting 1st August. They are determined not to stop their agitation until and unless their demands are achieved.