Bandh unreasonable: Education (S) Director
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 05 2018:
Education (S) Director Th Kirankumar has reasoned that the indefinite State wide bandh called by various tribal bodies from 6 am tomorrow is unreasonable and has appealed to all those concerned to call off the proposed bandh at the earliest.
It may be mentioned that Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland), Thadou Students Association, Rongmei Naga Student Organisation (North East India) and Siamsinpawlpi announced the indefinite State wide bandh yesterday due to the failure of the State Government to include even a single lecturer for Tribal Language (MIL) in the notification for the recruitment of 409 Higher Secondary School lecturers.
Speaking to media persons at SSA conference hall at Babupara today, Th Kirankumar said that the Department sent a proposal to the Government for the appointment of 688 Higher Secondary School lecturers on contract basis.
The said 688 posts include 42 posts for lecturers of nine tribal languages namely Mizo, Paite, Hmar, Tangkhul, Thadou Kuki, Jhou, Vaiphei, Kom and Rongmei.
The total posts also include that of lecturers for seven extra subjects of Arts and Science.
Even though the Department sent the proposal for 688 posts, the State Cabinet approved 409 posts initially and as such the Department attempted to recruit eligible candidates for the posts which were approved first, the Director explained and added that the posts for lecturers of nine Tribal Languages and that of seven additional subjects of Arts and Science got the approval from the Cabinet rather late on June 26.The necessary documents for the posts which were recently approved by the Cabinet just reached the Department during the last few days.
The process of issuing necessary notification after taking the concurrence of the Finance Department will take some time, he explained.
The Director claimed that the Department had explained about the situation to the tribal bodies in the past and it is unfortunate that the said bodies decided to call an indefinite State wide bandh by ignoring the assurance of the Department.
Explaining that the recruitment process for the said 699 posts, including the Tribal Language and Arts and Science lecturer posts, will be done simultaneously, the Director reasoned that the proposed bandh is unreasonable and urged the associations to call off its proposed bandh at the earliest.
On the other hand, Thadou Students Association Chandel and Tengnoupal, Jiribam and Tamenglong branch have pledged support to the indefinite State wide bandh called by the tribal bodies while Senapati District Students Association, Kuki Students' Organisation, Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur and Naga Students' Union Chandel have denounced the bandh.