ATSUM asserts on MU admission reservation
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 03 2014:
On the reservation in admission in Manipur University, the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM-Tombing) the Parliament received the assent of the President on June 19, 2012 for amendment of the central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission), Amendment Act 2012 and published for general information for the well being of different ethnic groups, studying in any central University of the Union of India under the central Educational institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 section-2 of the central Educational institutions Reservation in Admission act 2006 (5 of 2007, hereinafter referred to as the principal Act) after clause (1) the following clauses were inserted, such as " Specified North-Eastern Region" means the area comprising of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and the Tribal areas of Assam referred to in the Sixth Scheduled to the constitution.
The Act so amended does neither specify Manipur as a Tribal state nor state anything of Manipur to be under the sixth schedule.
"Therefore, the statement of the convenor of Joint Students' Co-ordinating Committee in some local daily under the caption "Students' challenge inclusion of Manipur as Tribal State in reservation Act" is misleading and unfounded," ATSUM stated.
It is a proven fact that reservation in a central University is 50% for general, 15% for SC and 27.5% for OBC and a mere 7.5% for Schedule Tribes, ATSUM also said.
"However, under the latest amendment of June 20, 2012, tribal students will be privileged to enjoy the reservation quantum of 31% in admission in Manipur University from the academic session 2014-15," it said.
Whereas, considering the asymmetric population growth between the Hill and Valley of Manipur as reflected in 2011 report stands at 25,70,390 out of which 17,36,236 people lives in the rural areas and a mere 8,34,158 settles in the urban area comprising the valley portion of the state.
Given this fact, the tribal deserve to get the reservation quantum as per the latest amendment, ATSUM further said.
"In the interest of the tribals, concerned authorities including the Government of Manipur may do the needful to materialise reservation of seats in admission in Manipur University as per the latest amendment.
Gone are the days when many toppers in degree Examinations were denied admission to different disciplines in MU on account of limited reservation of seats for Schedule Tribe (ST).
Now that reservation quantum has been raised from 7.5% to 31%, the burden of studying outside Manipur or a common phenomenon of study break will be much lesser amongst the tribal students," ATSUM added.