DMC students protest, Education Minister hits back
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 06 2013: In a high voltage drama, students of DM College today plunged right in front of Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro, while he was seated as the Chief Guest of the 67th Birth Anniversary of the College, and shouted slogans right on his face demanding to step down alleging him to be unfit for the Ministerial post.

After offering floral tributes to the newly installed statue of Queen Dhanamanjuri, the main function held at the newly constructed Multipurpose hall of the College had just started when the unruly scene was witnessed.

At that time, the Principal of DM College of Science was giving his speech.

The agitated students numbering around 10 of them entered the hall silently holding placards in their hands and as soon as they reached the foot of the stage, they turned towards Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro and shouted slogans demanding his resignation calling him to be unfit for the post of Education Minister.

All the people attending the function stood still in amazement at the scene unfolding before their eyes.

Education Minister M Okendro paying tributes to the photograph of Queen Dhanamanjuri

It may be recalled here that after the Joint Committee of DM College Students Union announced its decision of boycotting the visit of the Edn Minister, security arrangements had been put in place in and around the College campus to avoid any unwanted incident.

However, when the students were approaching towards the stage, none of the deployed security personnel could be seen anywhere around.

Nevertheless, the personal security guards of the Minister and other attending MLAs reacted swiftly and chased away the slogan shouting students from the hall.

Minutes later, Jayentakumar, SP of Imphal West district; Dr Ibomcha, DSP of Imphal West; Modhunimai, SDPO of Imphal West district rushed in and confronted the students.

The students complaint to the police officers that the Education Minister, who cannot identify the actual boundary of DM College and drive out illegal encroachers from the college campus or dismantle the halls constructed illegally as well as cannot appoint a regular Principal of the College is unfit to be a Minister and he should resign on moral ground.

On the other hand, while speaking on the occasion, Education Minister M Okendro admitted that charges leveled against him by the students and stated that he may not stick around as the Education Minister for long.

He, however, made it clear that even though he is unfit to be a Minister for Education, he will try his level best to root out all corruptions from the Education sector.

"All the dirt inside the education sector will be washed away at my best level.

However, since the department is filled with so much dirt, it is difficult to clean it up in one go.

One cannot bring a complete change in the educational sector overnight, it has to take some time and we have to acknowledge this fact", he pointed out.

He further informed that an amount of Rs 14.5 crores had been earmarked for the education sector in the State budget for this financial year.

From this, an amount of Rs 2 crores only has been sanctioned for use in laboratory and other equipments.

The remaining amount has been assigned to payment of salaries of the teachers and other staffs.

Even though there is shortage of funds, the toilet complex of DM College of Arts has been constructed and the toilet complex of DM College of Science and Commerce will also be constructed even though there has been no demand in this connection.

The Minister also said that since the demarcation of DM College has to be done along with the Revenue Department and all other works relating to road construction and establishment of police packet have to be done in coordination with various concerned departments, it has to take time.

He is also in constant touch with the concerned departments to do the needful in this regard, he assured.

The Minister further pointed out that DM College has produced countless number of good students in the past.

They are now working in many government departments.

But they should not only be good in studies but should also have discipline and respect.

There is no harm in protesting against the authority for the welfare of the college and students, but if the agitation is done in such an indiscipline and disrespect manner, then he will react as a man worthy of respect, leave aside being a Minister.

The function was also attended by MLA T Mangibabu, MLA Joykishan, Commissioner of Higher Education P Veiphei, Additional Director of Higher Education Dr RK Yaiskul, President of DM College Alumni Association Dr S Chaoba, Principal of DM College of Science Dr P Dhanabir, Principal of DM College of Arts Dr A Nungsitombi, President of DM College Teachers' Association Dr H Ibocha and Project Director of MDS Y Ningthem as Guests of Honour.