Imphal: The pen-down strike launched on July 21 by 603 newly regularised higher secondary lecturers under the Lecturers’ Association Manipur has been temporarily suspended with effect from Thursday after a verbal assurance was by the authority.
The decision came hours after the lecturers staged a sit-in Thangmeiband, here, demanding the completion of the pending regularisation process and the release of over three years of unpaid salaries.
The government was pressed to address the long-pending issues faced by the lecturers who were initially appointed on a contract basis in 2019.
According to a government order issued on January 8, 2022 signed by commissioner Education (S), M. Harekrishna and counter signed by joint secretary, Education (S) Hmangte Lerte Kom said, “The Governor of Manipur is pleased to order the regularization of the services of 603 (Six hundred and three) Contract Lecturers (Annexure-A) in the Government Higher Secondary Schools subject to the following conditions including regularization of the 603 (six hundred and three) Contract Lecturers with immediate effect after verification by a Departmental Committee.”
The order added that “Payment of entitled pay and allowances of the Higher Secondary Lecturers w.e.f 01-04-2023. Meanwhile payment of the remuneration of the Contract Lecturers will continue. And the contract Lecturers after regularization will not be entitled to any other pay or allowances other than the remuneration presently drawn by them for the period up to 31-03-2023.”
Amid the protests, a government order for transfer and posting was issued on Friday. Signed by Yumnam Arunkumar Singh, under secretary of the Education (S) department, the order affected six lecturers, including three executive members of the lecturers association.
The association’s president Ashem Sanjoy Singh was transferred from Wangoi Higher Secondary School to Somdal NK Higher Secondary School, executive member Maria Thokchom from TG Higher Secondary School to Wangoi Higher Secondary School, and its secretary Irengbam Malemnganbi from Lamlai Higher Secondary School to Jiribam Higher Secondary School.
The order stated that the transfers were effective immediately and issued in public interest.
Later in the evening, a meeting between the lecturers’ representatives and the concerned authorities concluded with a verbal assurance from the government.
As per a statement signed by the secretary of the lecturers body, Irengbam Malemnganbi, the government assured that the Governor-in-Council’s approval for the completion of the pending regularisation process would be submitted within 2–3 days.
The statement mentioned that delays in file processing were due to newly joined senior officials within the department needing time to complete groundwork. The government reportedly assured the lecturers body that the recent transfer orders affecting its executive members would be revoked.
The lecturers hoped that the verbal agreement would soon materialise into formal action to resolve the long-standing issues.
