ATSUM warns NH bandh from July 28
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, July 23 2019:
Alleging the State Government of neglecting its charter of demands placed a couple of years ago for implementation and rectification concerning the tribal populace of the State, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur has threatened to launch different forms of agitation with 48 hours National Highways bandh from midnight of July 28 .
A press communique from Micah Kamei, secretary, information and publicity, ATSUM expressed disappointment against the State Government's alleged lackadaisical attitude towards the tribal apex student body in particular and the tribal people of the State in general regarding ATSUM's charter of demands placed before the State Government a couple of years ago for implementation and rectification concerning the tribal populace of the State.
It continued that on the recommendation of the Chief Minister, the State Government formed a committee on October 8, 2018 headed by Addl Chief Secretary, MH Khan as Chairman to look into ATSUM's Charter of Demands consisting of Education Sector, ST Reservation policy in admission and recruitment, health sector, tribal sub-plan and subsequently on the record three consultations were held with tribal leaders besides separate meetings held by the Government to deliberate on the Charter ofDemands but the whole exercise now is as good as dead as no tangible recommendation has been furnished to ATSUM till date.
While the Govt.is dilly dallying over the tribal people's demand, recruitments have been done in absolute violation of ST reservation policy and education system in the hill districts is deteriorating day by day despite the "School Phagathansi" programme.
It expressed doubt on whether the "School Phagathansi" mission will benefit the tribal students in hill districts.
It also said that ATSUM is anguished with the constant denial of the Constitutional rights of tribals in Manipur by the authority of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) despite repeated reminders for granting the tribals their due Constitutional rights pertaining to reservation in recruitment to Group 'C' and 'D' posts.
The recent notification of vacancies issued is initiated in complete violation of reservation policy in recruitment to Group 'C' and 'D' posts in Central institutions.
Another notification on July 12 was published to add another 25 seats for MBBS course in the institute, again violating reservation norms since there are no seats reserved for ST, SC and OBC except 10 seats as unreserved, 4 seats for all India and 11 seats for economically weaker section for the general category where the candidates from other categories cannot be included, it added.
It continued that ATSUM has repeatedly appealed the RIMS authority through memorandum for rectification of reservation discrepancies in the recruitment of LDC and admission intake of MBBS course notifications yet till date the RIMS authority seems to be adamant.
It said that the long pending demands for introduction of B.Ed Course in all the Government colleges in the hill districts and a special recruitment drive for backlog ST reserved posts of Assistant Professor have been stuck and ATSUM will be compelled to give up the culture of petitioning and a radical step will be initiated to protect the minorities living in the state of Manipur.
ATSUM and its constituent bodies will be compelled to resort to different forms of agitation with 48 hours National Highways bandh with effect from July 28 midnight as the first phase of agitation, it warned.
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