Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 14 2009:
Taking grim note over the delay in delivery of books to the deprived students of the State under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme, the Manipur Students' Federation (MSF) has cautioned to take up various suitable measures in the interest of the students, in case the authorities fail to deliver books meant for students by the end of March.
In a press statement, the MSF information and publicity secretary, Longjam Umakanta Meetei noted that the text books meant for students for class I-VIII under SSA which have been printed by the BSEM haven't reached the targeted students although bunches of books are available with the BSEM.
It pointed that the students' body has begun investigating the 'breach' between the BSEM and SSA authority while asserting that the students' body will take suitable measures if the books are not delivered to the targeted students by the end of March in the interest of the students.
The statement also said that the central government scheme exclusively meant for students belonging to economically deprived section, SSA, with the slogan 'Education for All' is a failure in Manipur and it said that the SSA can be given another long-form "Students Spoiled Agency" while noting that students are not provided their due share in time and the mid-day meal programme under the scheme is not upto the mark.
It wonders how the government is contemplating to usher in a good education system in this state and asks if the government assumes that those in private institutions are only counted as students of Manipur? .
It lamented that even if the government claims its achievement by constructing road, tall buildings etc, it becomes meaningless when thousands of its poor children are left in the lurch while demanding books to the students without any further delay.