Free education to be given to AFSPA victims' kids
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24 2014 : In association with All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association (AMRPSWA), United Committee Manipur (UCM) is set to provide free education to the children of AFSPA victims in private schools.

Speaking at a press conference held at their Lamphelpat office, UCM president Y Nabachandra said that some selected children of victims' families had already been handed over to the functionaries of AMRPSWA in a joint meeting held on November 24 .

After their sole bread winners were killed under the cover of AFSPA, these families have been reeling under extreme hardships and most of them are unable to send their children to schools, Nabachandra said and added that as such, UCM has decided to support them by providing free education to their children in private schools.

Announcing that the first phase of their endeavour would commence from the 2015-16 academic session, Nabachandra said that one child would be given admission in Class-I, four in Class -II, two in Class-III, four in Class-IV, three in Class-V, two in Class VII and three in Class-VIII from this academic session.

Stating that UCM would also put in effort to get free text books and uniforms from the Government's SSA scheme for these children, Nabachandra said that this arrangement is meant for the students reading from Nursery to Class-X .

He said that nowadays every parent wants to send their children to private schools due to uncompetitive nature of Government schools, and most of these AFSPA-ravaged families can't afford to send their children to private schools.

Saying that AMRPSWA has assured UCM to extend co-operation in this endeavour, Nabachandra said that parents are free to choose any private school located near their house.

Welcoming UCM's move, Extra Judicial Execution Victims' Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM) former secretary Neena Ningombam said that these families have been facing different hardships.

Although, it is said that various welfare schemes are being run by the Social Welfare Department, these families are not given easy access to these benefits, Neena added.

She alleged that some officials of the Department even harass and discriminate victims' families.

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