IGNTU-RCM students' union demands KSO, ANSAM serve 5-day ultimatum
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, February 20 2015 : Extending their support to the demands of the student union of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus Manipur (IGNTU-RCM), two tribal based student bodies in Manipur today served a five-day ultimatum to the State Government.

Students of IGNTU-RCM have been resorting to various forms of protests demanding that their demands be fulfilled which the State Government as well as authority of the university have agreed to.

The key demands of the union include immediate completion of approach road and other development works like electrification and water supply connection at the permanent campus of the varsity at Makhan village in Senapati district.

IGNTU students staging a protest at the varsity's Adimjati campus

The construction of main buildings for the main campus of IGNTU-RCM has already been finished, but development of hostels, buildings to accommodate students, staff, faculty and many other members are yet to be started.

Other demands of the students are recognition of IGNTU-RCM as an autonomous Central University independent of IGNTU, Amarkantak, reservation in recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff and admission of students, appointment of a full-time Director for the varsity and separate fund allocation.

For the time being, the union has been pressing the State Government to complete the development works like water supply, approach road and electricity so that the varsity can start functioning soon.

The varsity is currently functioning at its temporary campus at Tribal Research Institute at Chingmeirong of Imphal.

On the same issue, the student union had launched various forms of agitations like class boycott, locking up the administrative block, etc.

They had even threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike in the middle week of January.

However, the same was called off following another assurance from the State Government.

Alleging that this time too, the State Government as well as the varsity authority have failed to fulfill the assurance, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Students' Union today announced resumption of their suspended indefinite class boycott stir.

Meanwhile, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) today came out in support of the student union while serving a five-day ultimatum to the Government from today.

Addressing a press conference at the temporary campus of the varsity, KSO general secretary Seiboi Haokip said they had held talks with State Government officials and requested them numerous times to fulfill the demands of the student union of the varsity.

However, so far the Government has not taken any work to fulfill the demands, he added.

"We have decided to give a five-day time to the Manipur Government to fulfill the demands," Seiboi said threatening that they will launch a series of agitation if the demands are not fulfilled within the set deadline.

Seiboi, however, refused to announce the type of stir they will launch at the press conference which representatives of ANSAM also attended, saying that it will be announced at an appropriate time.

Our Staff Reporter adds: The IGNTU Students' Union, Regional Campus Manipur has intensified its agitation by shutting down the university today.

President of IGNTUSU-RCM K Bowangkho said the State Govt should be held responsible for any outcome of the strike.