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Imphal, July 4 (EMN): With the issuance of an official order, the long-standing demand for implementation of 7th UGC Pay to the college teachers of Manipur was granted on Saturday.
Manipur Education minister, S Rajen Singh handed over the government order for the implementation of 7th UGC Pay in the state to the representatives of All Manipur College Teachers Association (AMCTA), according to a DIPR press release.
M Harekrishna, Commissioner (Higher and Tech. Education), Dr. Rangitabali Waikhom, Director Education (U), Ch Sachi, Deputy Secretary (Higher and Tech. Education), and the president and secretary of AMCTA were present at the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Rajen said that the MoU signed between the representatives of AMCTA, Federation of Government College Teachers’ Association (FEGOCTA) and the government has turned into a reality. Appealing to the agitating college teachers to come back to their normal duty as their demands have been met, the minister said that the normal online classes should be resumed in the larger interest of the students. He said that the representatives of AMCTA and FEGOCTA met Chief Minister, N Biren Singh on March 6 in his presence with Chief Secretary and other high-ranking officials regarding the matter. He said that the date of implementation of the revised pay shall come into effect for January 1, 2016 with actual cash payment from July 1, 2021. There will be no payment for the period from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2019. Arrears for the period of April 1, 2019 to June 29, 2021 shall be deposited into the respective GPF Accounts of the employees, which cannot be withdrawn for the period of 3 years or till retirement, whichever is earlier. The minister further explained that for those teachers under New Pension Scheme, arrears shall be released in three equal instalments, first in July, 2021, second in July, 2022 and third in July, 2023. Arrears for expired/retired teachers shall be paid in one time instalment. An order has been issued in this regard.
Meanwhile, the teachers in the government colleges of Manipur including those in the Dhanamanjuri University resumed online classes and examination activities from Sunday, according to FEGOCTA. Convenor (Media and Publicity Committee) of FEGOCTA in a press release on Sunday said that the 6th FEGOCTA agitations are suspended from July 3 saying, "These decisions were taken at the emergency executive committee meeting of FEGOCTA, held on July 3 at 8 pm through online mode".
FEGOCTA also thanked Chief Minister, N Biren Singh and other Cabinet Ministers including Deputy CM, Y Joykumar for historic cabinet decisions on 7th UGC Pay and regulations 2018. "It is for the first time that complete UGC regulations have been implemented in Manipur", it stated.