Tribal students return to MU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 06 2008: Tribal students of Manipur University who left the campus in connection with the demand to hike reservation percentage for Scheduled Tribes in the University have returning to the university campus today.

The decision to return to MU campus was adopted after the Cabinet in a meeting held yesterday agreed to establish a centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in one of the hill districts.

Tribal students board a bus to return to MU campus

The MU authority has also reportedly assured to conduct extra classes for the tribal students for the period they were away from the university and also to re-conduct tests held during their absence.

Speaking to reporters at District Council Guest House, Sangakpham, John Pamei of MUTSU clarified that the decision to return to MU campus does not mean the tribal students have withdrawn their demands.

Even after the tribal students rejoin their respective classes in MU, the Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) would persistently pursue their demand for 31 percent reservation for ST students during admission in Manipur University.

The student body would also urge the Government to implement its Cabinet decision for establishment of a new university in one of the hill districts, he confided.

Hailing the Cabinet decision to set up a centre of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University under the Ministry of Human Resource Development in a hill district, MUTSU spokesperson Michael Luminthang demanded that the proposed hill university should be established without any delay so that its maiden session can start from 2009-10 .

The tribal students who were staying at the District Council Guest House at Sangakpham after they left MU hostels on October 6 were taken to MU in two buses of the University today.