Ukhrul, July 8, 2026: The Ukhrul District Government Employees’ Association (UDGEA) on Wednesday staged a peaceful sit-in protest at the Mini Secretariat Complex, Ukhrul, extending support to the ongoing statewide agitation of government employees.
The protest was held in response to the call given by the Manipur Secretariat Services’ Association (MSSA), Manipur Government Services’ Federation (MGSF), Manipur State Pensioners’ Union (MSPU), and the Joint Action Committee of the All Manipur Trade Unions’ Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees’ Organisation (AMGEO).
Government employees from various departments in Ukhrul district took part in the demonstration, displaying nameplates and placards in support of the charter of demands submitted to the Government of Manipur.
Speaking to the press during the protest, UDGEA Secretary K. Keishing, who is also a Computer Programmer under the Election Department, said the employees of Ukhrul district fully support the memorandum submitted by the employees’ organisations to the State Government.
He said the sit-in protest was organised to express solidarity with the statewide employees’ movement and to urge the government to fulfil the charter of demands placed before it.
Highlighting the key demands, Keishing said the employees are demanding enhancement of Dearness Allowance (DA) to 60 percent with effect from January 1, 2026. He said government employees in the state have been serving with dedication and deserve fair consideration in DA benefits.
The association also demanded the extension of the retirement age of government employees from 60 years to 62 years. Keishing said many employees are retiring one after another while fresh recruitment has not been carried out sufficiently, resulting in staff shortages in several departments. He said extending the retirement age would help bridge the gap caused by vacancies and manpower shortages.
The employees further demanded that all vacant sanctioned posts be filled through the Manipur Staff Selection Commission and that the 8th Pay Commission be constituted at the earliest.
Another major demand raised during the protest was the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. The association stated that employees do not want uncertain pension arrangements and urged the government to restore a secure pension system for government servants.
UDGEA also demanded regularisation of all genuine contract employees, stating that workers should not be kept under master roll or contract appointment systems for long periods. The association said the government must ensure job security for genuine employees who have been serving for years.
The protesting employees also called for the restoration of Saturday as a holiday. Keishing said the State Government had earlier approved Saturday as a holiday but later revoked the decision.
He stated that due to staff shortages, many employees are forced to work beyond normal office hours. While government office hours officially begin at 10 am, some employees, he said, report as early as 8 or 9 am and continue working till 7 or 8 pm.
He urged the government to recognise the pressure faced by employees and restore Saturday as a holiday to provide relief to the workforce.
UDGEA appealed to the Government of Manipur to take the demands of government employees seriously and resolve the matter at the earliest in the larger interest of employees across the state.
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