ATSUM warns of indefinite economic blockade
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 01 2014 :
The ATSUM led by its president Emboi Serto today threatened Manipur Government it would opt for indefinite economic blockade in tribal areas beginning February 16 if the tribal student body's pending demands are not met at the earliest.
All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) held a sit-in protest in front of MBC Church, Chingmeirong here on Saturday calling the state Government for fulfillment of its long-pending demands and threatened it would go for indefinite economic blockade if the Government fails to settle with the union at the earliest.
"Manipur Government has ignored our demands.
We'll wait its response for some more days and then we will impose economic blockade in the tribal inhabited areas of Manipur from February 16 if our demands are not met," said ATSUM general secretary Marahang while taking part in the protest.
ATSUM has urged the Government to meet its demands such as rules for reservation, separate directorate of education for the hill, adherence to reservation norms while recruiting contract lecturers and adhoc teachers in the Education Department, decentralization of the Tribal Affairs & Hills, solution for the problems confronting the Indira Gandhi Tribal University, and devolution of powers to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), among others.