Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Personnel of the Manipur Excise Department under the banner of the All Manipur Excise Employees Welfare Association launched an indefinite cease-work strike at the department headquarters in Imphal on Monday, pressing for the implementation of long-pending service-related demands.
Protesters displayed banners announcing the indefinite strike from May 18, 2026, and demanded pay scales for Excise Department employees on par with personnel in the police department. They also sought the extension of ration money benefits, 13th-month salary provisions, and the supply of official communication equipment and vehicles, citing the round-the-clock nature of their duties.
The employees’ body stated that the implementation of the Revised Pay (ROP) 2016 for excise personnel has remained pending despite repeated follow-ups with the concerned authorities, leading to growing dissatisfaction within the department.
Speaking during the protest, the AMEEWA president said the cease-work strike would continue until the government takes concrete steps to implement the revised pay structure with notional effect from January 1, 2024.
The association further demanded that excise personnel be granted the same benefits provided to police personnel, including ration money and 13 months’ salary.
According to the association, the department is functioning with severe staff shortages. Out of the total sanctioned strength of 707 posts, only 115 employees are currently serving, leaving nearly 84 per cent of the posts vacant.
Despite the ongoing agitation, the association expressed hope that the government would take prompt and positive steps to resolve the issue in the interest of the employees.