Imphal, Jan. 12: Teachers of elementary schools in Manipur joined the government employees’ demand for implementation of the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations in the state.

Thousands of elementary school employees, under the banner of the All Manipur Elementary School Teachers’ Association, staged a simultaneous sit-in all over the state today.

The sit-in comes three days after the lecturers of higher secondary schools staged a similar sit-in in Imphal city over the same demand on January 9.

The government employees, under the banner of the Joint Administrative Council of government employees’ organisations, are on an indefinite ceasework from November 27 over the same demand.

The teachers’ organisations are, however, not constituent members of the JAC, but fully support the demand.

Over 15,000 teachers of nearly 2,200 elementary, secondary and higher secondary schools are preparing to join hands to give more teeth to the JAC’s fight.

“The leaders of the All Manipur Elementary School Teachers’ Association, All Manipur Secondary School Teachers’ Association and All Manipur Government Higher Secondary School Lecturers’ Welfare Association, will meet on January 14. The agenda is the next course of action. The meeting will decide our future course,” Th. Ibopishak, the general secretary of the association, said today.

The courses of action include the boycott of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, school examinations and even an imposition of economic blockade along the national highways.

The higher secondary lecturers have announced that they would boycott the election being held later this year and also the routine examinations of the higher secondary council if the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations are not implemented.

“We are even contemplating imposing an economic blockade if the government remains indifferent to the demand,” said S. Gunamaani Singh, another leader of the elementary school teachers’ association.

The teacher’s sit-in, however, did not affect classes, as the new academic session is yet to start.

The teachers held a sit-in at Khoyathong in Imphal West and Imphal East teachers staged their sit-in at Porompat.

Similar sit-ins were held at the headquarters of the nine districts and offices of the deputy inspectors of school from 10.30am till 3pm.

The elementary school teachers also demanded adequate school infrastructure and extension of the teachers’ service age from 58 to 60 years.

The agitation continues despite chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s assertion that his government would not be able to pay the enhanced salaries.