ATSUM calls statewide strike on January 19
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 10 2013:
All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has called a 24-hour statewide general strike with effect from midnight of January 18 over its long pending demands 'pertaining to the interest of the entire tribal people of the State in ushering peace and harmony' .
Announcing this to media at the office of Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur at Khuman Lampak here today, Majabung Gangmei, spokesperson of ATSUM, stated that ATSUM had made known its various demands in the interest of the tribal people of the State but the Government has failed to comply with.
So, an ultimatum has been served to the State Government for conceding to these demands and if the State government fails to meet the demands by January 18, ATSUM would be compelled to launch a 24-hour State-wide general strike from the midnight of the same day.
Majabung further stated that if the State government fails to come up with specific solutions even after the general strike, ATSUM would be compelled to launch more intense agitations.
He explained that ATSUM has put forward eight demands to the State Government.
The demands include an effective government of the hill areas; setting up of Manipur State Commission for ST; setting up of B Ed centre in all the districts of the State; intervention of the State government in Indira Gandhi National tribal university (INGNTU); adequate staff and infrastructures in the educational institutions in the hill areas; reservation of SC and ST at the time of conducting DPC; review of the orders number 3/8/2008-Jr (MCS); to protect the indigenous rights on land and to review the arbitrary village authorities election.
Majabung Gangmei informed that it has been a long standing demand of ATSUM to have a State Commission for the ST in Manipur under Art 338A of Indian Constitution.
This would usher in the all round development and progress in respect of the tribal people in Manipur.
He also charged the State government with failure of addressing the grievances of the tribal people in the hill areas with regard to setting up Centre for B Ed and TET.
Even the HSLC Examination Centres are often treated as temporary arrangement, he pointed out.
Furthermore, Majabung maintained that the crisis in the newly set up INGNTU regional campus in Manipur is looming large towards a total breakdown as all the required infrastructures have not been properly attended by the concerned authorities.
There is no end to the students' agitation over the numerous lapses in the University.