Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 28:
The 41st annual general conference of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has begun from today at GP Women's College.
The inaugural function of the five-day long general conference was attended by chairman of North East Students' Organisation (NESO) Samujjal Bhattacharyya and AMSU president Birendra Chingakham as chief guest and president respectively.
Giving the key note address, AMSU secretary general MS Helien Lupho said the conference is being organised with the main objective of honing the leadership quality of the students.
The general conference will provide a common platform where student leaders can come together and deliberate on various important issues, he said.
Though AMSU was set on August 28, 1965 with the main objective of working for the welfare of the student community, now it needs to expand its activities in other areas well as, he noted.
In his address as chief guest of the function, Chairman of NESO Samujjal Bhattacharyya extended his support and lauded the courage of Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been waging a lone crusade against the continued imposition of the draconian Armed Forces' Special Powers Act, 1958.On the need for promoting education, he pointed out that a sustained human resource development is essential in the north east region.
So there is the need to set up an Education Commission along with promotion of quality education and strict maintenance of an academic calendar, he said.
There is no reason why more and more institutes of higher studies should not be set up in Manipur when there are numerous such institutes in other States of the country, he added.
On the problem of migrant issue, Bhattacharyya maintained none of the political parties and politicians have done anything to protect the identity of the indigenous people living in the region since time immemorial.
As a consequence, influx of migrants from beyond the border of Bangladesh has today posed a serious threat on the identity and socio-economic life of the indigenous people.
Without being communal, this problem should be resolved by ourselves, he said, adding India Government should also pay serious attention in this regard.
NESCOCOMI president Maniton Oinam, representative of Tripura Students Federation Kajol Debburma, AASU vice president Jotin Borah, Mizo Zirlai Pawl president SD Thauna, Shillong Manipuri Students' Union president Th Suresh, ATSUM vice president Richard Haokip, DESAM president K Chinglemkhomba Meitei, Kangleipak Students' Association president Th Ajitkanta, Kharam Students' Union president A Asom, AMMSO general secretary Md Anuwer Husseain and former AMSU presidents L Saratchandra and M Abhiram were among those who attended the inaugural function of the general conference as guests of honour.
Many important issues would be deliberated along with experts in various fields during the five-day long general conference with an attempt to find out solutions to the problems besetting the North east region.