Several government offices today wore a deserted look here after employees affiliated to Manipur Government Services Federation went on mass casual leave, demanding implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.
General Secretary L Purujit of MGSF told reporters it was the "first phase of agitation" for implementation of the pay commission in the state.
He said employees, workers and teachers voluntarily took the step and urged the all-round cooperation from the state government to achieve the objective in a peaceful manner.
During the state's Budget Session in July this year, Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar had said the Manipur government would have to bear an additional burden of Rs 1,700 crore if the 7th Pay Commission was implemented.
There are at least 74,000 government employees in the state, Joykumar, who holds the portfolio of finance minister, had said.
Employees not affiliated to the MGSF, however, did not take part in the mass casual leave.